‘Gudumba’ (illicit liquor) ban claims 7 more lives in Telangana
Hyderabad: The Telangana government’s crackdown on illicit liquor continues to claim lives sending hundreds of gudumba addicts to hospital. On Sunday, seven deaths were reported from various districts.
Gudumba sales have come to a complete halt in Telangana last week after Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao ordered officials to book cases under the PD Act against those involved in the production and distribution of gudumba.
Two habitual drinkers, including an aged woman, died and 60 others fell sick in Basar on Sunday after excise officials closed toddy shops two days ago. The deceased were identified as Posani, 60, and Shankar, 40, of Basar town.
Local officials shifted two habitual drinkers who fell sick to Nizamabad and two others to Bhainsa area hospitals for treatment. The rest are undergoing treatment at the local primary health centre in Basar town. Three women died in Gadwal mandal in Mahabubnagar district, suffering from gudumba withdrawal.
According to their family, Kurva Mallamma (55), Malathamma (35) and Bhesamma (65) had been drinking gudumba for several years and had become addicted to it. Fifty-year old Banglinti in Nizamabad district died of the same cause.
Balavva, a resident of Gandhari mandal, suffered fits after she failed to get gudumba. She was admitted to a private hospital where she died on Sunday. One Raju (42) of Armoor in Nizamabad district also died on Sunday after he had fits due to non-availability of gudumba. According to his family members, he had been addicted to gudumba for the last several years.
In Mahabubnagar, over 600 gudumba addicts have been hospitalised. Their withdrawal is so severe that staff in hospitals are being forced to tie their legs and hands as they are not cooperating with the doctors for treatment.
Health minister C. Laxma Reddy has directed doctors and staff in all government hospitals across the state to remain on high alert as there are chances of more gudumba addicts being admitted. In Sangareddy in Medak district, several gudumba addicts were admitted in government hospitals on Sunday.
In Kangli mandal in Medak district, eight people were admitted to a hospital after they fainted due to non-availability of the intoxicant.
