Bihar: In dry state, rats are drinking seized alcohol
In the dry state of Bihar, a large number of rats are likely to die due to liver cirrhosis as they are drinking seized alcohol. Officials across ranks are confident rodents are drinking the liquor. In Kaimur district, police confiscated 200 cans of beer which were kept in the storeroom of Excise Department. The cans had neat holes, and officials blamed rodents for it.
What led authorities to believe rats are the culprits
Bhabhua SDM Kumari Annapurna Singh who was taking stock of the situation corroborated the rat theory. She said all six or seven cartons were empty and it looked like 'doing of the rats'. Further, District Magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary said, "If it was the work of humans, then the can would have been cut properly." He added an investigation has been ordered.
Expert says rats may drink but not heavily
Shedding light on rats' behavior, Gopal Das of Zoological Survey of India said, they adapt to change according to surrounding habitat. "It is quite possible that if rats stay at a place where water is not available, they can consume liquor alternatively. But I do not agree with claims that rodents can guzzle hundreds of liters of liquor," he added.
Interestingly, rat drinking theory was dissed by senior official
Notably, this is not the first time when rats were blamed for drinking alcohol. In May 2017, rats swigged liters of alcohol in Patna, cops claimed. But this explanation was dissed by VS Dubey, former Chief Secretary of undivided Bihar. "Officials are trying to fool themselves and others. It is they who are either drinking or selling it," he said.
