By Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : Death tolls are continuously rising in the country’s worst hooch tragedy as 186 people have died so far and threatening to touch 200 as more and more affected people lost their lives.The death toll in the hooch tragedy that has stricken the Upper Assam districts of Jorhat and Golaghat has risen to 185. The tea plantation community of Assam has been affected most by the incident and despite the promise of Rs. 2 lakh in grant money by the Government, it can be argued that financial remuneration alone cannot compensate for the void created in the lives of the people related to the deceased. The tea tribe community, which has long been seeking a pathway to development and has been largely overlooked by the Government, are known to drown their sorrows in bucketfuls of cheap liquor. And now, it seems, that too will be taken away from them as the Government continues its crackdown against the bootleg liquor racket in the state.

The Assam Assembly on February 25th, 2019 witnessed pandemonium with opposition parties staging noisy protest over the hooch deaths.The Assembly wasadjourned till 10.30am as the opposition including the congressand AIUDF staged a walk out holding placards. In Golaghat district’s Salmara the death toll has crossed 103 while in Titabor’s Borhula it is 52 so far with more other battling for life.Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday said that the current government has no moral right to be in power and demanded dissolution over the country’s worst hooch tragedy.“There is no conspiracy, the incompetence of the Assam government has resulted in the tragic deaths,” said Gogoi, adding, “All the departments, including Finance and Excise, are responsible for the tragedy.” The senior Congress leader also demanded CBI investigation into the incident, where more than 166 people were killed and several others were getting admitted in different hospitals in Golaghat and Jorhat for treatment after consuming illicit liquor.Meanwhile Chaotic Situation At Assam Assembly, Adjourned.Assam Legislative Assembly Adjourned Opposition protest over Assam hooch tragedy Opposition protest with placards Veteran Congress leader questions PM’s silence pertaining to the incident