Assam: Tonganagaon Tea Estate deaths not related to cholera, says Tinsukia DC
TINSUKIA: District Commissioner (DC) of Tinsukia in Assam, Swapnil Paul, confirmed that the deaths of 11 individuals at the Tonganagaon tea estate were not due to cholera but rather from consumption of illicit liquor and other health issues.
Briefing the media in Tinsukia district of Assam, Swapnil Paul stated, “The 11 deceased workers from the Tonganagaon tea estate did not die of cholera or diarrhoea.”
“Comprehensive tests conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) revealed no traces of these diseases in the deceased individuals' samples,” Paul informed.
“The ICMR tests showed no signs of cholera or diarrhoea in the workers’ bodies. The investigation by the district administration and health department brought this to light,” he added.
The Tinsukia DC further stated: “The health department and administration have found that some workers died due to the consumption of illicit liquor, while others succumbed to different health reasons.”
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“A 24-hour mobile medical camp has been set up in the Tonganagaon tea estate to address any immediate health concerns.”
Over the past week, 11 individuals have died at the Tonganagaon tea estate in Tinsukia district of Assam.
The Assam Tea Tribes Students' Association (ATTSA), Tinsukia district committee, initially claimed the deaths were due to cholera and diarrhoea, providing a list of the deceased and reporting that many others were hospitalized.
Notably, former Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressed his concern over the incident and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.