Day: August 1, 2017

Our Bureau

IMPHAL | Aug 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the flood situation in Northeastern states at a series of high-level meetings held at Guwahati today. He held detailed review meetings on the situation in the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland.

He announced Rs 2,000 crore for Northeastern states to deal with the damage caused by recent floods that killed 76 persons in Assam and affected millions.

Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the PM also announced an additional Rs 100 crore to institute a high-powered group, including scientists, technocrats and bureaucrats from central and state governments, to study the course of the Brahmaputra river for a permanent solution to the floods in the region.

Chief ministers of the respective states, and senior officials were present at the meetings.

During the meeting, state chief minister, N. Biren Singh urged the PM to figure out a permanent solution to the frequent floods in the state. Mentioning that Ithai barrage has become the main cause of frequent flood in the State, N. Biren Singh drew the attention of the PM to review the Loktak project and Ithai barrage.

He highlighted that the Loktak project was taken up so that the State could get some power supply out of it. He mentioned that at present, the State is having sufficient power resources from other sources.

Stating that Manipur is facing one of the worst man made ecological disasters and the floods have severely affected the socio-economic life of the people, chief minister maintained that the Ithai barrage should be removed so that natural course of water could be maintained.

During the meet, chief minister expressed his desire for dredging the river beds of all the rivers in the State and to conduct eviction drives against the encroachment on the banks of the rivers.

Chief secretary R. R. Rashmi, secretary to CM, M. Ashokkumar, principal secretary, M.H. Khan attended the meeting.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 1

Methanol or methyl alcohol is the cause of death for the five individuals who drank spurious liquor. The state food testing laboratory conducted tests on the adulterated liquor consumed by the residents of Oinam Sawombung, the results has tested positive and methanol has been found.

The result was confirmed by the food analyst of the state health department, Sanajaoba. He told the Imphal Free Press that the samples were collected by the food safety officers and designated officers of Imphal West and Thoubal from the Oinam Sawombung area.

He said that four samples were collected; it also included some liquor which was left over from the individuals who drank it and were later hospitalised. Out of the four samples, three tested positive for methanol. The result was known today.

According to an expert, Methanol or wood alcohol is a highly poisonous chemical when ingested. The chemical is metabolised by the kidneys into formaldehyde and formic acid which attacks the central nervous system. It may lead to blindness, coma and death.

It may be mentioned that a local of Oinam Sawombung  Makha Leikai, Wangjam Herojit (35) son of W. Thoiba died on July 29 morning after drinking the spurious liquor brought from a local vendor.

Few hours before he died, he had claimed that his eyesight was getting blurred and started vomiting blood.

In the afternoon, Oinam Shyam (50) son of O. Tombi Singh who drank the same liquor died after getting the same symptoms. Till date, 5 persons have succumbed and 24 are still treated in the ICU out of the 79 persons hospitalized. Now, the fact is clear that these persons have drunk methanol laced liquor.

The treatment for methanol poisoning is said to be ethanol, ethanol or ethyl alcohol is the consumable chemical present in all types of liquor. According to Dr L. Sachindra of Shija hospital, ethanol is given to the patients suffering from methanol poisoning as the kidneys receive the ethanol first and repels the methanol without metabolizing it; as such it prevents the forming of poisonous chemicals and does not harm the body.

Pure ethanol is also injected to treat the poisoning besides conducting dialysis which is another method to treat the poisoning, he added.