Hooch toll 34, Governor visits SCB

CUTTACK/BHUBANESWAR: The toll in the liquor tragedy rose to 34 on Saturday with another patient succumbing at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.The victim __ Laxmidhar Behera of Badajharilo village under Cuttack Sadar Police limits __ was admitted to the Central ICU of the hospital along with others on Tuesday. He had reportedly consumed the fatal medicinal concoction along with others at the house of Baidhar Bhoi, the vendor, in Tukulipada on the fateful night.Being critical, he was immediately put into the ICU along with two others. The others are also still not out of danger, doctors of the SCB said.Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare visited the victims in the hospital on Saturday evening. He enquired about their health and the treatment provided to them. The Governor also visited the alleged Pipili gangrape victim at the ICU.Meanwhile, the situation in the affected villages and the hospital has improved substantially. Of the 35 persons, who were admitted to the SCB, 20 recovered fully and were discharged on Saturday. Fifteen persons are still in Special Medicine Ward, five in Eye Department and two in the Central ICU.These apart, five affected persons are being treated at Hi-Tech Hospital in Capital.Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also reviewed the situation in Cuttack and Khurda districts where the deaths occurred. He was told that raids are continuing across the State by Excise and Drug Control officials to search for and prevent spread of the spurious medicinal formulations.