Bihar's Prohibition Law Falters as Hooch Deaths Surpass 360 Mark
Patna: A decade after the implementation of prohibition in Bihar, the state remains ensnared in a grim cycle of hooch tragedies, with over 360 fatalities reported since 2016. These recurring incidents starkly expose the chasms in enforcement mechanisms and the harsh ground realities that undermine the alcohol ban.
Major Tragedies Highlight Systemic Failures
The deadliest episode unfolded in 2022 across Saran and Siwan districts, where more than 70 individuals perished after consuming spurious liquor. Another significant toll was recorded in 2024, with approximately 40 deaths in Saran, Gopalganj, and Siwan districts. Despite arrests of liquor mafias and suppliers following these events, the menace persists, as evidenced by 10 recent deaths in East Champaran district in April 2026.
Early Setbacks and Legal Reversals
Prohibition, enacted in April 2016 under then Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, faced its first major setback just four months later. In August 2016, at least 19 people died in Khajurbani village, Gopalganj district, with six others losing their eyesight—a tragic precursor to the ongoing crisis. A case was registered against 14 individuals, resulting in convictions by a special excise court in 2021, including nine death sentences and four life imprisonments. However, the Patna High Court acquitted all accused in July 2022, citing insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, overturning the lower court's strict order.
Data Discrepancies and Official Statements
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, compiled from state figures, shows stark inconsistencies. From 2016 to 2021, NCRB reported only 23 hooch deaths in Bihar, with none in 2017 despite at least five fatalities in Rohtas that year, as confirmed by then additional director general S K Singhal. In contrast, Additional Director General (Prohibition) Amit Kumar Jain stated that 354 deaths occurred from 2016 to March 2026, with 10 more in April, bringing the total to 364. NCRB data for 2022 alone recorded 134 deaths, including 73 in Saran and Gopalganj districts.
Human Toll and Government Response
Victims in incidents like the December 2022 tragedy in Saran district's Mashrakh, Doila, and Yadu Mot villages suffered severe symptoms—nausea, vomiting, sudden eyesight loss, and headaches—with many succumbing en route to hospitals. Initially, Nitish Kumar refused compensation, remarking, "If you drink, you will die," but later provided Rs 4 lakh each to victims' families. In 2024, around 40 deaths occurred in Siwan, Saran, and Gopalganj districts, followed by the April 2026 incident in East Champaran.
As Bihar grapples with these ongoing tragedies, the enforcement of prohibition remains a critical challenge, underscoring the need for robust measures to curb illicit liquor and protect lives.
