At least 20 persons died and several others were battling for their lives in a hooch incident in Bihar’s Saran district of Bihar that came to light on Wednesday. Many of the victims have lost their eyesight too.

The incident reverberated in the state legislature as the BJP staged protests, while chief minister Nitish Kumar lost his cool.

The toll could rise further as families of some dead people or those who have fallen ill after consuming poisonous liquor have not come out in the open due to the fear of the district administration and the police, as well as, the harsh provisions of the prohibition law implemented in the state.

Local villagers claimed more than 20 people have died in the incident.

However, the district administration put the death toll at eight, with another seven admitted to hospitals.

“As per our information, eight persons have lost their lives and seven others are in serious condition in hospitals after consuming hooch. The deaths have occurred in areas under Mashrakh, Amnour, Issuapur and Marhaura police stations. Raids are being conducted and two persons who had sold liquor have been arrested so far,” a senior Saran district administration official told The Telegraph on the condition of anonymity.

“It seems some of the people who fell ill have gone into hiding due to social stigma and the fear of the administration. We are using the loudspeakers in the affected area to assure them to approach us and get the necessary medical attention,” the official said.

The official said that many people had consumed hooch at an illicit vend on Monday night. They started suffering from stomachache, uneasiness, breathing trouble and vision loss after a few hours.

Some of the victims died on Tuesday and some on Wednesday. Sources in the district administration said that the area where the hooch incident occurred has become a hotbed of illicit liquor trade and consumption due to a thriving system of pilfering spirit (methyl alcohol) being transported through it in tankers to other places.

“The role of the police and other enforcement agencies in the area is dubious and the pilfering also happens in nexus with them. The use of methyl alcohol in concocting hooch is the main reason behind the deaths and vision loss,” a source said.

The BJP protested against the tragedy in both the Houses of the state legislature — Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council — on Wednesday.

The BJP MLAs rushed with placards and posters to the well of the Assembly and demanded a high-level probe, compensation to the families of the hooch victims and an apology by the chief minister on the incident. Speaker Awadh Bihar Chaudhary was asking them to return to their seats and allow the legislative proceedings to go on smoothly.

However, Nitish suddenly exploded at the Opposition MLAs while they were protesting. “Sharabbandi ke paksh mein tha sab ki nahi? Kya ho gaya? Kya ho gaya? Aye, chup ho jao. Arey tum bol rahe ho zahreeli sharab! Sharab peene wala bol raha hai. Tum log ganda kaam kar rahe ho (You all were in favour of prohibition. What has happened? What has happened? Shut up. You are talking about poisonous liquor! The one who drinks is speaking. You all are doing dirty work),” Nitish screamed at the top of his voice.

Nitish went on saying: “Tumhi log gadbad karwa rahe ho. Isi liye tum logon ko chhod diya. Itna ganda kaam kar rahe ho. Aye, sab ko bhagao yahan se. Kal saath the, aaj sharab ke paksh mein bol rahe ho. Ab toh bilkul bardasht nahin kiya jayega (You all are doing mischief. This is the reason I left you. You all are doing such dirty things. Chase them away from here. They were with us yesterday, but are talking against prohibition today. Now I will not tolerate it at all).”

The chief minister kept speaking at the top of his voice for several minutes, but his microphone was either having some problem or was switched off by the Assembly officials, due to which a large part of what he was speaking could not be clearly heard in the ruckus.

The House was adjourned for 15 minutes during the Question Hour and then resumed to take up the legislative proceedings despite the vigorous protests by the Opposition.

In the post-lunch session also, the House was conducted despite the protest. The BJP MLAs staged a walkout and the proceedings continued in their absence. Nitish Kumar’s government implemented total prohibition in Bihar in April 2016 by bringing in a harsh law. However, a nexus of the enforcement agencies and politicians with the liquor mafia compromised its implementation.