8 more hospitalised for liquor poisoning

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 30: Eight more persons, who consumed illicit brew at various places in Thiruvananthapuram, were admitted to the medical college hospital here with symptoms of liquor poisoning. None of them was in a serious condition. Of the 69 persons under treatment for liquor poisoning, 40 were discharged on Sunday. The hooch tragedy in Kollam district has so far claimed 34 lives since October 21 last. Meanwhile, official sources said the government had stepped up raids against illicit brew dens in the state. A special police team, headed by inspector general of police, Sibi Mathew, began interrogating Mehairunissa, the main accused in the Kollam hooch tragedy. The team also searched her house at Kaluvathukal, from where the brew was manufactured and supplied, the sources said.