Excise shuts 6 toddy shops after death in Wayanad

KALPETTA: The excise department has closed all the six toddy shops owned by a  licensee in Wayanad  district  following the death of a person who consumed toddy from a shop at   Kottathara on Friday night. Five  others who were hospitalised were discharged on Saturday. The department sealed off the toddy shop late on Friday night after the death of Gopi of Thekkumthara. The body was handed over to the relatives after post-mortem on Saturday.

The police registered a case against  toddy shop owner Viswanathan of Peravoor, Kannur.  Kalpetta circle inspector Abdul Shameer said that it was suspected that the toddy  was  adulterated with toxic substances.   The excise department is awaiting the chemical examination results of the toddy samples from the Regional Chemical Examination Lab at Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode,  to confirm whether the toddy was adulterated.