Four die after drinking surgical spirit in Vizag

VISAKHAPATNAM: Four persons died after consuming surgical spirit at Kasimkota in Visakhapatnam district on Sunday.
The deceased were identified as K Anand (48), V Nookaraju (61), P Appa Rao (45) and V Manikyam (62).
Police said that on Saturday night Anand hosted a party at his home at Kasimkota and invited five friends. Four of them drank surgical spirit as they could not afford to buy liquor.Two others did not drink the liquid. Four of them fell ill in the wee hours on Sunday.
L Himagiri, sub-inspector, Kasimkota, said Anand died at his home on Sunday while Nooka Raju died on way to NTR Hospital at Anakapalle. Appa Rao, who complained of vomiting and few other complications, was admitted to Anakapalle hospital initially and died on the way while being taken to KG Hospital. V Manikyam, who had consumed a small amount of the spirit, was admitted to KG Hospital but died on Sunday evening.
Initially, the police suspected that the four died after consuming hooch. Later they found an empty bottle of surgical spirit.
Police investigation on how the spirit was procured points to Anand, who working in the loading and unloading wing of a pharma firm at Parawada, and who likely gpt 2.25 litres of the spirit from the company illegally.
Police said one P Dora Babu who also consumed the spirit with Anand, fell ill, and is availing treatment at KGH where his condition is said to be critical.
Police have registered a case under Section 174 of the CrPC (death due to consumption of unknown liquid).