The Excise Department carried out a fresh surprise raid on illegal country liquor units operating in Salia Sahi, one of Bhubaneswar’s largest slum areas, and seized a large quantity of fermented wash and chemicals used in liquor production.
Acting on intelligence inputs, excise officials conducted simultaneous raids at four locations and destroyed nearly 6,000 litres of fermented wash (pocha). The team also seized a substantial quantity of rotten fruits, chemicals allegedly used in brewing liquor, plastic containers, drums, and other equipment.
Officials said the illegal liquor units were being operated secretly inside narrow lanes of Salia Sahi. Investigations revealed that toxic country liquor was being produced by mixing fermented fruits with harmful chemicals, posing a serious risk to public health.
The Excise Department warned that consumption of such illicit liquor could lead to severe health complications and even prove fatal. Although no arrests were made during the operation, officials confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
Salia Sahi is widely known as Odisha’s largest slum settlement and has long been identified as a hotspot for illegal country liquor production. Joint operations by the Excise Department and police are conducted here almost every month.
In 2025 alone, multiple raids were carried out in months such as October, September, and March, leading to the seizure of thousands of litres of liquor and fermented wash. In August 2024, several illegal brewing units were demolished using bulldozers, and authorities seized 11,500 litres of liquor and 50,000 litres of fermented wash.
Similar enforcement drives were conducted repeatedly in 2023 and earlier years as well. Despite sustained action, the continued operation of illicit liquor units has caused growing concern among local residents.
Excise officials said the area remains under constant surveillance and assured that stricter action will be taken in the coming days to curb illegal liquor trade.
