'What Is Alcohol...'... Why 'Illegal Liquor Disasters' Keep Happening in India

Many Places Officially Ban Alcohol Sales and Consumption
Repeated Death Accidents Among Poor and Rural Moonshine Groups

A patient hospitalized after drinking illegally manufactured alcohol in India. Photo by AP·Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] Another tragedy occurred in India where dozens of people died after drinking 'milju (密酒)', an illicit liquor containing toxic substances.

According to Indian media such as India Today on the 15th (local time), more than 20 residents died after sharing milju in three villages in the Saran area of northern Bihar state. The victims bought and drank the liquor at village shops on the 12th, after which patients began to flood in.

Some of the patients lost their eyesight, and some died while receiving treatment at hospitals. The number of residents receiving treatment continues to increase, and some of the existing patients are in serious condition, so the death toll is expected to rise further.

Tragedies caused by milju repeatedly occur in India. This is because many places, including Bihar state, officially prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol. As a result, residents either illegally manufacture liquor or purchase illegally produced liquor, leading to continuous 'milju tragedies'.

In particular, milju is widely distributed among the poor and rural areas in India. Consequently, there are frequent mass deaths after drinking liquor containing toxic substances such as industrial methanol. Methanol is used as a solvent and pesticide ingredient, and even small amounts can cause toxic effects such as vision impairment.

In 2011, 172 people died after drinking milju in West Bengal state, and in 2019, more than 150 residents lost their lives in the northeastern Assam state. In 2020, 120 people died after drinking illegally produced liquor in northern Punjab state. In July of this year, 38 people died over two days after buying and drinking fake liquor in the Botad area of western Gujarat state.

When a similar tragedy occurred this time, residents blocked a nearby highway and protested, demanding thorough investigations and compensation. Authorities launched an emergency investigation and arrested three people involved in the production of milju.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.