At least 17 people died after allegedly consuming hooch in two districts of dry Bihar on Diwali while around 20 more are said to be critical.

The toll pushed the deaths due to suspected consumption of spurious liquor in the state close to 70 this year, casting a question mark on the total prohibition enforced by chief minister Nitish Kumar in April 2016.

The hooch tragedy in West Champaran district unfolded on Thursday at Telua village under Nautan police station, around 180km northwest of state capital Patna.

West Champaran district magistrate Kundan Kumar and Bettiah superintendent of police Upendra Nath Verma did not take phone calls, but other officials said eight people had died while 12 others were battling for their lives after consuming hooch.

“So far we have come to know of eight deaths due to the suspected consumption of spurious liquor. Altogether 12 people have been hospitalised. The toll could increase,” Champaran range DIG Pranav Kumar Praveen told The Telegraph.

“There is determination at the top level of the government with regard to prohibition, but our enforcement machinery is a cause of concern. We need to ponder over it,” Praveen added.

The people of Telhua village accused the local police of patronising those who brewed and distributed liquor in the area. They pegged the toll and the number of people taken ill at 10 and 18, respectively.

The sick were rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Bettiah.

“Ten people were brought to the hospital, of which two were already dead while two others died during treatment. Two more are in critical condition. They all are suffering from drowsiness, shortness of breath and blurred vision. These are suspected cases of hooch consumption. We are conducting a post-mortem of the dead to ascertain the cause of death,” GMCH superintendent Pramod Kumar Tiwari told this newspaper.

Nine people died after allegedly consuming hooch at Muhammadpur village in Gopalganj district. Some of them passed away on Wednesday while a couple of them died on Thursday. Several others have been hospitalised after they complained of uneasiness.

“Nine persons have died in the hooch tragedy so far. We have been conducting raids in the area since yesterday because our aim is to save the lives of people. So far three persons have been taken into custody and are being interrogated,” Gopalganj district magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary said.

He added that police and excise teams had raided three houses and seized illicit liquor from two of them. An FIR has been registered.