At least 14 people have died while over 20 others undergoing treatment after they consumed spurious liquor in Ramnagar area of the district on Monday night. The police have arrested 4 peoples in the case. The accused have been identified as Sunil Jaiswal, Shivam Jaiswal, Pitambar and Pappu Jaiswal.

At least 45 people have been admitted in the hospital of which 36 are in the trauma center. All the victims had purchased liquor from a government outlet leased to one Danvir Singh and minutes after consuming the same, they complained of loss of eyesight. Locals from Raniganj and adjoining villages consumed the liquor purchased from a shop in Ramnagar area, around 60 km northeast of Lucknow on Monday night. 

According to the sources, Danvir Singh was selling spurious liquor from the government outlet and owned an illicit liquor factory. The tragedy led to the suspension of 10 excises and two police officers. Barabanki Excise Officer Shiv Narayan Dube, Excise Inspector Ramtirath Maurya, three head constables and five constables of the excise department have been suspended with immediate effect. Circle Officer Pawan Gautam and Station House Officer Rajesh Kumar Singh have also been suspended on the charges of dereliction of duty.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow over the deaths due to drinking. Along with this, DM and SP have instructed that immediate treatment facilities should be provided. An inquiry has also been ordered into the incident.

It may be recalled that at least 30 people were killed in February this year after drinking spurious liquor in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur and Kushinagar districts and Uttarakhand's Roorkee. At least 16 people had died after drinking spurious liquor in Saharanpur and Kushinagar districts.

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