Toxic alcohol kills 19 in alcohol-restricted Nagaland within 48 hours

A surge in deaths linked to suspected contaminated liquor has gripped Nagaland over the past two days, with the death toll reaching 19 across different parts of the northeastern state. The fatalities mark a severe public health crisis in a region where strict alcohol prohibition laws have been in force for decades.

Cases of death have been reported from multiple locations in the state, highlighting the widespread nature of the suspected toxic alcohol outbreak. State authorities have grown increasingly concerned about the rapid succession of fatalities, prompting swift action to contain the crisis.

In response to the emergency, state police have established a special investigation team (SIT) to undertake a detailed inquiry into the deaths and identify the source of the contaminated alcohol. The investigation is expected to focus on tracing the supply chain and determining how the toxic liquor entered the market despite the state's prohibition regime.

Nagaland has maintained one of India's strictest alcohol prohibition policies for several decades. The sudden emergence of illicit and contaminated liquor supplies underscores the challenges authorities face in enforcing prohibition laws and preventing unauthorized alcohol circulation in the region.