Tuensang reports another suspected alcohol-related death

TUENSANG — Another death suspected to be linked to alcohol consumption was reported in Tuensang on Tuesday, taking the district’s toll to at least 12 following a cluster of deaths reported last month.

The deceased was admitted to District Hospital, Tuensang, at around 5 am after developing symptoms including vomiting and difficulty breathing, and died shortly afterwards, according to police.

Police said a post-mortem examination could not be conducted after the family declined consent. The officer-in-charge said the administration, Chang Khulei Setshang (CKS) and village leaders had tried to persuade the family to allow the examination, but the deceased’s son refused.

The latest death comes less than a month after at least 11 people died in Tuensang between September 10 and 12 amid suspected links to alcohol consumption. The victims reportedly developed symptoms including vomiting, blurred vision, abdominal pain and breathing difficulties.

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Tuensang death toll rises to 11 amid suspected liquor link

Subsequent testing of suspected liquor samples from Tuensang and Mokokchung detected methanol, although the Director General of Police, Rupin Sharma, said the initial forensic findings were qualitative and could not establish whether the concentration exceeded permissible limits. Samples were sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Guwahati for quantitative analysis.

A separate cluster of suspected spurious-liquor deaths was subsequently reported in Mokokchung, where the toll reached at least nine.

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