Meanwhile, Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Thursday allocated a cheque of Rs 1 million to those who died after consuming poisoned alcohol in villages in Majita.
Dhaliwal said the strictest action will be taken to all those responsible for the tragedy.
He said police have arrested 16 people so far in connection with the incident.
The minister said the government is providing free medical care to those hospitalized and will provide them with financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh per person.
“There is no money to make up for the loss of family support, but the government has the responsibility to do everything possible to support the surviving members,” he said. Most victims of the tragedy were daily bets. The deaths were reportedly in the villages of Bhangali, Patalpuri, Marari Kalan, Talwandi Khumman, Karnala, Bhangwan and the then villages.
Police investigations show methanol, a chemical used in industrial products, was purchased online in bulk to prepare toxic beer.
Methanol is a lightweight, colorless organic compound that is toxic after ingestion and is illegally added to alcoholic beverages. As a cheaper alternative to ethanol, ethanol is a normal consumable alcohol.
The victims of the tragedy range from 26 to 80 years old, many of whom are the only families to support their families.
Two separate case registrations were conducted in the Majitha and Kathunangal Police Stations in rural Amritsar under Section 105 (a delicious homicide case not belonging to murder) and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 103 (murder case).
