The Gujarat government, on Wednesday, confirmed that death toll in the hooch tragedy has risen to 41.
The tragedy had come to light on Monday when some people living in Rojid village of Botad and other surrounding villages were referred to government hospitals in Barvala area and Botad towns with deteriorating health condition, after consuming spurious alcohol.
More than 95 people are still undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Ahmedabad, Botad and Bhavnagar.
Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi held a press conference on Wednesday to assure that strict action will be initiated against the accused. Call it a hooch tragedy or chemical tragedy, the government is committed to taking stringent action against those responsible, he said.
The minister said a raid was carried out after sarpach of Rojid brought up the issue of hooch being sold in the area, and breweries were destroyed. Sanghavi claimed that since hooch was not available, the victims consumed chemical mixed with water. According to him, out of the 600 litres of chemical stolen from an Ahmedabad-based company, 550 litres were recovered.
The minister assured that a chargesheet will be filed in 10 days. Fifteen out of the 38 accused in the case have been arrested, he said, and added that there are stringent laws in place in the state to punish those violating prohibition.
The ruling BJP has been facing severe criticism from the Congress and the AAP in the election year over its alleged failure to implement prohibition in Gujarat. The tragedy also comes even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled for a two-day visit to the state from Thursday.
On Wednesday, DGP Ashish Bhatia said the victims consumed chemical along with water. However, this was rubbished by the BJP's political opponents who said the claim was part of the attempts to cover up the issue.
Several bootleggers from across the state were nabbed and breweries destroyed in the past few days following the tragedy.
Meanwhile, in Valsad a PSI and three constables were caught having a liquor party, and were suspended.
