Canning (WB), December 14
In one of the worst hooch tragedies in West Bengal, 57 persons, mostly labourers, rickshaw-pullers and hawkers, died and over 100 were hospitalised in serious condition after consuming illicit liquor at Mograhat in South 24 Parganas district today.

While 10 persons died at Sangrampur village, around 40 km from Kolkata, in the early hours today after drinking from some liquor joints near the Sangrampur railway station, 47 others died in other hospitals where they were admitted, official sources said.

Among the dead, most are labourers, rickshaw-pullers and hawkers, they said.

The condition of over 100 persons admitted to the Diamond Harbour Sub-Divisional Hospital, Sangrampur and in Kolkata was serious, the sources said, adding that they had symptoms of severe stomach ache, vomiting and loose motion. A medical team has been rushed to the area from Kolkata, Sunderban Affairs Minister Shyamal Mandal said.

Locals smashed a liquor manufacturing unit at Mograhat and the joints from where it was being sold at Sangrampur.

The West Bengal Government announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those who died. State Public Health Engineering Minister Subrata Mukherjee announced the compensation in the Assembly.

Union Minister Mukul Roy, District Magistrate NS Nigam, SP LN Meena, zila parishad Sabhadipati S Sheikh and CPM leaders Rezzak Mollah and Sujon Chakrabarty visited the hospitals. — PTI