Calcutta/Midnapore, June. 10: A medical team sent to Belpahari to investigate five alleged starvation deaths over four months concluded excess hooch consumption, jaundice, TB and malaria took their toll.

Nathu alias Shatrughana Sabar, 67, was returning home “drunk” when he was caught in a hail storm and fell unconscious. He died later. Samay Sabar, 50, and Mangali Sabar, 30, died of jaundice and Sambhu Sabar, 48, and Sanatan Mula, 40, died of TB at West Midnapore’s Kankrajhore, about 240 km from Calcutta.

The chief minister had expressed concern following reports that they died of starvation and the government despatched the probe team this morning. “The reports are disturbing. I have asked minister Maheshwar Murmu and the local sabhadhipati to visit the spot and sought a detailed report from the district magistrate,” Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said this morning.

West Midnapore’s chief medical officer of health M.G. Mondol said a random examination of 75 villagers in Kankrajhore and Amlasuli showed no signs of malnutrition.