Rajasthan: Probe launched after 6 men die in Alwar villages in 4 days
Jaipur, Apr 30 (PTI): The death of six people due to unconfirmed reasons in two villages located around Siliserh Lake in Alwar district in the last four days has prompted the district administration to initiate a probe.
Senior Rajasthan Congress leader and leader of opposition in the state assembly Tikaram Jully, however, alleged that the deaths occurred due to spurious liquor.
The administration, on its part, has ruled out the possibility of spurious liquor being a cause of the deaths.
Alwar Collector Artika Shukla confirmed on Wednesday that six men have died, but she said three of the deaths had no connection with liquor.
"Family members of one of the deceased men informed our team that he fell sick after pesticide spray on the farm, while another man who died was suffering from high BP. The family of the third man said that he was an asthma patient," said Shukla, who had sent a team of officials from the district administration and police to the villages.
The collector said that the exact cause cannot be ascertained since no postmortem was conducted.
The remaining three men who died were liquor addicts, but they were not taken to hospital by the family members after they fell sick, she informed.
"CMHO (chief medical and health officer) said that liver failure or high BP could be a probable cause of death," she said.
An investigation into the matter is underway. The district authorities, including the police, are probing the matter, including illicit liquor.
"According to the initial probe, the reasons for deaths are different. There is no confirmation of death due to liquor so far," Sanjeev Nain, Alwar SP, said.
Villagers said that Suresh Balmiki (45) died on Saturday, Ramkishore (47) and Ramkumar (39) died on Sunday, while Lalaram (60), Bharat (40) and Omi (65) died on Monday.
Balkishan, father of deceased Ramkumar, said that his son had come home after consuming a bottle of country-made liquor.
"After some time, his health deteriorated, and he died in the hospital," he told reporters in Alwar.
Targeting the state government over the issue, Jully claimed that the illicit liquor business flourished under the BJP rule.
"The government has turned a blind eye to this issue. The government is trying to hide the truth and death figures in Alwar," he alleged.
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Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine, Gaza ceasefire, release of hostages in Sunday appeal
Vatican City, May 11 (AP): Pope Leo XIV called for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza with the release of hostages and delivery of humanitarian aid in his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff.
“Never again war!” Leo said from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica.
Recalling the end of World War II 80 years ago, Leo quoted Pope Francis in denouncing the number of conflicts ravaging the globe today, saying it was a “third world war in pieces”.
Leo, the first American pope, also noted that Sunday was Mother's Day in many countries and wished all mothers, “including those in heaven” a Happy Mother's Day.
The crowd, filled with marching bands in town for a special Jubilee weekend, erupted in cheers and music as the bells of St Peter's Basilica tolled.
It was the first time that Leo had returned to the loggia since he first appeared to the world from there on Thursday night following his remarkable election as pope, the first from the United States. Then too he delivered a message of peace.
Earlier Sunday, Leo celebrated a private Mass near the tomb of St Peter with head of his Augustinian order, the Rev Alejandro Moral Anton. The Mass occurred in the grottoes underneath St Peter's, the traditional burial place of St Peter, the apostle who is considered the be the first pope.
The area, which is normally open to the public, also contains the tombs of past popes, including Pope Benedict XVI.
Leo on Saturday prayed before the tomb of Pope Francis, located across town at the St Mary Major Basilica.
The 69-year-old Chicago-born missionary was elected 267th pope on Thursday following the April 21 death of Francis.
St Peter's Square was packed with pilgrims, well-wishers and the curious, many holding up flags from their homelands. Leo gave many special groups a shoutout.
