Dehradun, February 10:  The death toll due to consumption of illicit liquor in Uttarakhand's Roorkee mounted to 32 on Saturday, forcing government officials to launch a major crackdown to nab the ones distributing it in the state. A total of 31 traders have been arrested in connection with the deaths that occurred due to consumption of illicit liquor. According to a tweet by ANI, 509 quarters of country-made liquor and 91 litres raw liquor seized from the traders. A magisterial inquiry has already been initiated in the hooch tragedy. Uttar Pradesh: 2 Dead, 3 Admitted After Consuming Illicit Liquor in Barabanki. 

In the wake of the rising number of deaths in the state, a show cause notice has also been issued to the higher officials of the Enforcement Wing of Excise Department for dereliction of duty.  Reports inform that the state government in Uttarakhand has suspended 13 employees of Excise Department including the Excise Inspector of Roorkee after about 70 people lost their lives after consuming spurious liquor in the state and Uttar Pradesh. Illegal Liquor Poured in Narmada, Congress Slams Madhya Pradesh Excise Officials for Making the River 'Impure', Watch Video.

On February 9, two men were arrested in UP's Gorakhpur area after over 7,000 bottles of smuggled liquor were seized from a truck in the Masuri area along Eastern Peripheral Expressway. The state governments of both the states- Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, have launched a major crackdown to nab those responsible for the distribution of illicit liquor in the states. According to a report by ANI, the Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh Police teams are carrying out joint operations along the UP-Uttarakhand border.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 10, 2019 09:19 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).