In a tragic incident in Andhra Pradesh, seven persons died and 15 fell seriously ill after consuming liquor at Swarna Bar in Krishna Lanka area in Vijayawada on Monday morning.
The victims were identified as daily wage workers who consumed liquor before going for work in the morning.
Shockingly, the bar is located close to the Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu's camp office in the city.
Though the bar was selling spurious liquor openly, excise officials failed to initiate any action against them and families of victims alleged that excise and police officials take regular bribes from this bar and allowed them to function despite selling spurious liquor in the name of prominent brands.
After the incident sparked furore, excise department officials siezed the bar immediately and the police shifted the affected people to hospital.
Excise minister Kollu Ravindra said the government will take serious action against bar management and will not give in to any pressure however big they may be.
He directed the officials to provide the best treatment to those who are battling for life in hospital. The government ordered a probe into the incident.
