Hooch toll rises to 19, four held

VIJAYAWADA: Sub-collector S Venkat Rao told Express that the hooch toll rose to 19 as Azmeera Manja (65) of Kanimerla thanda died at a private hospital in Vijayawada on Monday night. A total of 24 persons are undergoing treatment in two private hospitals in Vijayawada and 20 patients have been discharged from hospitals so far.Meanwhile, excise and enforcement team reportedly  took three members of a family into custody at Nagireddygudem in Chintalapudi mandal of West Godavari district on Tuesday in connection with the hooch tragedy at Mylavaram.The three, Ajmeera Bhukya, his wife Haseena and son Chandu, were brought to Vijayawada for questioning. The family from Poratanagar left the hamlet two days ago.