Halmira tea estate in Golaghat district and its neighbouring areas have lost 57 persons, some of whom could have been “saved” had the local excise department and police acted on a September 18 letter by the garden management to check the sale of spurious liquor.

Sources told The Telegraph that the garden not only reached out to the excise department for assistance but had even mentioned the names of 21 persons from within the garden involved in the hooch trade.

“Pyres of as many as 30 victims of the hooch tragedy were lit near-simultaneously on the evening of February 23 at the ground outside Halmira garden. It was heart-rending. Precious lives were lost. Had there been stern action in tackling the hooch issue, some lives could have been saved. The excise people came once, picked up one of the sellers and put him in jail for some time. But nothing happened to the others who had managed to give them the slip,” one of the sources said.

Altogether 157 persons have died in Golaghat and Jorhat districts in Upper Assam since February 22, the worst-ever case of death by suspected hooch poisoning. The toll in Golaghat district alone is 90.

“Precious lives have been lost. Had there been stern action in tackling the issue, some lives could have been saved. The excise people came once, picked up one of the sellers and put him in jail for some time. But nothing happened to the others who had managed to give them the slip,” one of the sources said.

Sources also revealed about another letter in 2016, through which the garden informed the local officials about six hooch suppliers with their names.

“Action was taken against them. The dens were demolished,” the source said.

Sources said at a meeting of stakeholders convened by the deputy commissioner on Thursday to chart out the future course of action, it came to light that the excise department had written to Halmira tea estate a couple of days after the incident, saying the management would be responsible if there was a repeat of the tragedy. When the management objected to the letter, the DC asked the excise official to get it withdrawn immediately.

Tea industry sources said gardens keep tabs on their people but can’t take “strong action” against those “gone astray” because of “local unions and associations” who may question the management on why they “took action without informing the administration”.

Golaghat administration sources said 34 persons have been arrested in connection with the hooch case, and it will be “unsparing” of those selling spurious liquor.

Even the excise department has suspended four officials from the two districts in the wake of the tragedy and reviewing the situation to prevent a repeat.

The actions have been appreciated but the affected population at Halmira, Woka and Borholla tea estates, spread over the two districts, hoped the “tragedy-triggered crackdown would be sustained”.