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Hyderabad, Jan 2 (IANS) The death toll in the hooch tragedy in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district rose to 18 Monday with another person succumbing at a hospital. The condition of four others remain critical. About 50 tribals belonging to Poratanagar and other tribal hamlets in Mylavaram mandal in the coastal district consumed illicit liquor New Year eve. While 10 lost their lives Saturday night, seven others died Sunday. Over 20 people are undergoing treatment in government-run hospitals in Mylavaram and Vijayawada. The government has ordered a judicial probe into the incident. Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana, who visited Mylavaram Sunday, also announced an ex-gratia of Rs.200,000 each to the families of the dead. A delegation of leaders of opposition parties Monday met Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and asked the government to ban the sale of toddy and arrack. The delegation comprising leaders of TDP, BJP, CPI and Lok Satta also urged the chief minister to make public the report of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which conducted raids on liquor shops last month and found irregularities in the sale of liquor. The opposition also wanted the government to take over sale of liquor from private traders and not to treat liquor as a source of revenue.
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