At least eight persons died and several others were battling for their lives in hospitals after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in two separate incidents during Holi celebrations in dry Bihar.

The state is gearing up to celebrate the fifth anniversary of total prohibition next week and the incidents have put a huge question mark on the success of the ban on liquor, one of the pet projects of chief minister Nitish Kumar.

Six persons were reported dead at Gondpur and Kharidi Bigha villages in Nawada district and eight were hospitalised after allegedly consuming hooch on March 29 and 30.

The deceased have been identified as Ajay Yadav, Ramdeo Yadav, Dinesh alias Shakti, Shailendra alias Shalo Yadav, Loha Singh, Prabhakar Gupta and Gopal Kumar.

The villages come under the Bhadauni panchayat and are close to Nawada town. Aabda Azmi, the mukhiya of the panchayat, said the deaths were due to consuming spurious liquor and alleged that prohibition was being rampantly flouted in the area.

“All the deaths have happened due to consuming spurious liquor. It is easily available in the area. Eight persons in serious condition have been taken to different hospitals at Nawada and Patna,” Azmi said.

Priyanka Devi, a native of Kharidi Bigha who lost her husband, told reporters: “He died after consuming liquor outside. There is no other reason. He was not ill. Liquor is available in these parts.”

Chamar Chaudhary, a native of Kharidi Bigha, has lost his eyesight in the hooch tragedy. He is undergoing treatment at Nawada Sadar Hospital. “I had consumed liquor to celebrate Holi but felt uneasy afterwards. I was taken to hospital. I am fortunate to be alive but have lost my eyesight,” he said.

Police and district administration officials rushed to the two villages but refused to talk about the reason behind the deaths. Calls by The Telegraph to Nawada district magistrate Yash Pal Meena and superintendent of police D.S. Savlaram were not answered.

Two youths lost their lives and another was hospitalised in serious condition after consuming liquor at Gudhiyari village in Begusarai district on Tuesday night.

The deceased have been identified as Rajkumar Sahni and Paremshwar Chaudhary, while Birju Sahni is undergoing treatment in hospital.

Begusarai SP Awakash Kumar told this newspaper: “Two persons have died. It is almost certain that they had consumed something due to which they lost their lives, but their family members and doctors have not confirmed the consumption of liquor. We will wait for the post-mortem report before arriving at any conclusion.”

The Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal attacked the Nitish government over the liquor deaths. “More people are dying of poisonous liquor in this state with the so-called prohibition than the entire country where liquor consumption is allowed. What benefit is Bihar deriving from this failed ban on liquor?” the RJD tweeted from its official handle.