Seventeen people lost their lives by Friday evening after consuming toxic illicit liquor mixed with industrial spirit in various parts of Pune city and the Pimpri-Chinchwad area. Many others remain in critical condition, and some are still battling for their lives. As a result, the death toll may rise further.This poisonous liquor has devastated the families of many young people below the age of forty. Similar tragedies in Mumbai's Malvani area and at Chhaya Bar in Tardeo had claimed more than 150 lives. Following those incidents, the government should have seriously considered prohibition or stronger preventive measures in Maharashtra. However, the lure of substantial revenue from liquor sales and the apparent failure of law enforcement agencies and the State Excise Department to identify and curb illegal liquor dens may have contributed to this tragedy. A major question remains: how can illegal liquor outlets operate openly without the knowledge of local police or regulatory authorities? If illegal liquor is being sold in major cities such as Pune and Mumbai, it raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the state's police machinery and the Excise Department.
