KATHMANDU, Sept 19: At least four Nepali nationals have died and several others taken ill in Malaysia due to suspected alcohol poisoning.

According to Acting Ambassador of Nepal to Malaysia Kumar Kharel, those dead Nepali nationals are among nine persons who died in Selangor state of Malaysia due to the suspected poisoning, as of Tuesday morning. “We had talked to officials at Seleangor Police Headquarters this morning. We were informed that four of the nine dead were Nepali nationals,” Kharel said.

Acting Ambassador Kharel said they are trying to establish contact with the local authorities to determine the number of Nepali victims as the death toll and those injured increased further by Tuesday evening.

Those deceased had reportedly consumed alcoholic drinks bought from various shops in Klang Valley in Selangor State on Monday. According to Malaysian media reports, the first victim who was a factory worker at Sungai Buloh died at around 7 pm on Monday and his death was reported by his employer. Then, two more deaths occurred that night.

According to local police, the number of dead has reached 15 and those hospitalized for treatment to 33 as of Tuesday evening. Local news websites The Star and The Malay Mail identified the three brands as Mandalay Whiskey, King Fisher Beer and Grand Royal Whiskey.

Malaysian media reported that police confiscated at least 20 boxes of assorted alcohol from two grocery shops in Sungai Buloh following the incident.

 
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• malaysia