Times Of India's video: How Diwali is darkened by back-to-back hooch tragedies in these Bihar villages

Among them, 16 people from Dakshini Telua village and surrounding hamlets under Nautan police station area of West Champaran died after reportedly consuming illicit liquor on Diwali-eve on Thursday while the death toll at Mohammadpur in Gopalganj district mounted to 10 till Friday. However, the official death toll was 23. But, sources said the death toll could be as high as 35 as the family members of several deceased reportedly cremated the bodies fearing police action. Twenty-two people have been arrested in connection with the twin hooch tragedies. So far, 92 people have lost their lives in 15 separate incidents in the state in hooch tragedies since January this year. The SHO of Nautan and Mohammadpur police stations besides the chowkidars of the two villages have been suspended as the additional chief secretary (home) and the DGP held a separate meeting to review the situation following the twin tragedies.　CM Nitish Kumar on Friday held a high-level meeting with senior home and police departments and ordered the officials to launch a crackdown on those involved in manufacturing and smuggling liquor, which is banned in Bihar since April 2016.