KARACHI: At least 17 people were dead and eight others were battling for their lives after consuming home-made liquor in Karachi, doctors and police said on Wednesday.
Half of the victims were brought in dead at a government hospital, while others succumbed to the fatal effects of methanol, a key ingredient used by unlicensed brewers to make the toxic alcohol.
The death toll touched 17 after another man succumbed to the toxic brew, Dr Seemi Jamali, director of the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical College, told Gulf News. She added at least eight others were under treatment and “all of them were in critical condition”.
The patients were brought from different areas of Malir, Landhi, and Korangi districts.
With licensed alcohol shops remaining closed during Eid Al Adha, people, mostly the poor, go for cheap home-made brews.
Selling and buying alcohol is prohibited in the Islamic Republic, but the government issues licences to few retail outlet to cater to minorities in the country.
Such tragic incidents take place during festivals and especially areas from the lower strata of society where people opt for cheap alcohol with authorised shops closed for business on public holidays.
Last year too at least 16 people died after consuming toxic alcohol and raids were carried out to arrest the brewers and sellers of the illicit brew.
Police said that at least three men were arrested in Korangi area for selling the illicit brew, with provincial police chief Ghulam Haider Jamali ordering crackdown on sellers of illicit hooch.
