Three Nepali victims of alcohol poisoning seen after Kajang Hospital discharged them. (Right) Jit Bahadur Majhi of Sindhuli undergoing treatment at Kajang Hospital.Nepali Embassy in Malaysia

Six Nepalis are among the 21 people dead in a mass alcohol poisoning case in Malaysia since Monday night.  

According to the Nepali Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Mim Bahadur Ghale of Dhading, Ram Kumar Yadav of Rupandehi, Bishal Budhathoki of Dadeldhura, Sanjay Urab of Sunsari, Bal Bahadur Kulung of Ilam and Aite Singh Gole died after drinking tainted liquor.

Six other Nepalis are being treated for alcohol poisoning in different hospitals, the embassy added.

“We have dispatched two teams in Kajang and Sungai Buloh to inquire about the conditions of the Nepalis undergoing treatment in different hospitals,” Acting Ambassador of Nepal to Malaysia Kumar Kharel told the Post.

The case was first reported on Monday night after more than 50 people, most of them foreign migrant workers, were taken ill in the cities of Kajang and Sungai Buloh in Seangor state as well as in Kuala Lumpur.

A local paper reported that three brands of beverages - Mandalay Whiskey, Kingfisher Beer and Grand Royal Whiskey - were causing alcohol poisoning among drinkers.

Malaysian authorities have launched a probe into the case. Selangor police has arrested at least seven suspects and seized a large quanitity of bootleg liquor.  

The Nepali embassy is meanwhile preparing to send home the bodies of deceased Nepali workers.

“We will start sending the bodies back to Nepal once the official investigation is over and the the post mortem reports are out,” Kharel said.

A similar incident had occurred in Malaysia in 2013, in which 29 migrant workers died.

Published On: 20 September 2018 | The Kathmandu Post