Unexplained Deaths in Dewas Spark Controversy Over Alcohol Consumption

Dewas, October 24 (Daily Kiran) : In Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, a series of recent deaths has led to conflicting claims regarding their cause. Grieving families assert that alcohol consumption is to blame, while local authorities attribute the fatalities to other factors.

The opposition in Madhya Pradesh is demanding an investigation into these incidents. Family members of the deceased have reported that the victims consumed alcohol shortly before falling ill. However, these allegations remain unverified, and officials have dismissed the idea that toxic alcohol was involved.

One family member recounted that Rahul, Deepak, and Prakash had been drinking at their workplace before becoming unwell. They did not return home and were later taken to a hospital, where they died. All three passed away within a short span of time.

Ramchandra Parmar, whose son Rahul died, claimed that his son’s condition deteriorated after drinking. He described how Rahul experienced chest pain and collapsed, eventually frothing at the mouth. Ramchandra insisted that alcohol was the cause of his son’s death when authorities arrived.

Rahul’s wife, Kavita Parmar, echoed these sentiments, stating that her husband had consumed alcohol before his death. She called for the closure of the local liquor shop, emphasizing that he rarely drank and had never experienced such severe symptoms before. “What happened to me should not happen to anyone else,” she said.

Another family member named several deceased individuals, including Rahul, Deepak, Bhima, and Om Prakash, noting that they had also experienced dizziness.

Despite the family’s claims, the local administration has not confirmed any link between the deaths and alcohol. Abhishek Sharma, the sub-divisional magistrate of Dewas, acknowledged that approximately ten deaths occurred in the Chhandana area recently but ruled out any connection to toxic alcohol. He stated that all fatalities were due to natural causes, including the deaths of three elderly women and two men over 65, as well as others who died while working in the fields.

Political reactions have surfaced, with Umang Singhar, the leader of the opposition in Madhya Pradesh, accusing the state government of failing to curb illegal alcohol trade. He claimed that the incident in Dewas involved the deaths of thirteen people due to suspected counterfeit alcohol, marking the third such occurrence in the state within three months.

Challenging the administration’s explanations, Singhar questioned why those who consumed alcohol fell ill if contaminated water was the cause of the deaths. He also criticized the lack of action against senior officials, including the excise commissioner.

The cause of the deaths in Chhandana remains contentious, with families attributing the fatalities to alcohol while the administration continues to deny any connection to toxic substances.