Vijayawada:
The death toll in the last night's liquor tragedy at Porata Nagar, a tribal hamlet near Kanimerla village in Krishna district here, today rose to 16.
While seven persons succumbed soon after they consumed the spurious liquor, nine more victims died today, an official said.
"16 people have died so far and 24 others are undergoing treatment," said Gaurav Uppal, Joint Collector of Krishna district. The government has announced Rs two lakh financial assistance to the kin of the deceased, he said.
About 50 tribals, belonging to the Banjara community, from Porata Nagar and its surrounding hamlets had consumed the brew on Saturday.
Some of them complained of various health problems soon after taking the deadly concoction, while some others fell unconscious. They were rushed to hospitals in Vijaywada and Mylavaram and Visannapet.
Hitting out at the government over the tragedy, TDP MLA D Umamaheswara Rao and activists of Left parties and women's groups held a protest at the hospitals.
They demanded Rs 10 lakh as ex-gratia, resignation of state Excise Minister M Venkataramana, who hails from the district, and action against Excise officials for their failure to check the illicit liquor trade in the district.
Slamming the state government over the tragedy, TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu charged that the government has become insensitive to the problems of the people.
"Even after 24 hours, none from the government has visited the victims. They don't bother even when so many people died. Their main interest is power politics. Do they have the moral right to continue in office even for a minute," he told reporters in Hyderabad.
Drawing flak from opposition parties, Excise Minister Venkataram, who was on pilgrimage to Sabarimala in Kerala, returned to the state and held a meeting with the officials of revenue, police and excise at Mylavaram this evening.
Venkataramana visited the victims who are undergoing treatment at the government hospital in Vijayawada.
He announced a financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and also employment for one person from the family of each deceased.
Venkataramana said the government would bear the expenses for the education of the children of the deceased. He, further, said the government would initiate action against the erring officials.
The family members of the victims and the villagers staged a dharna in front of the minister when he visited their village.
TDP sources said party chief N Chandrababu Naidu is likely to visit the victims on Monday.
Meanwhile, in a similar incident at Choutugpal in Nalgonda district, one person died and five others fell ill after they consumed illicit toddy (an intoxicating drink), police said.