LUCKNOW/ INDIA: Bootlegged liquor claimed the lives of 28 people and has sent another 160 to hospital in the northern Indian city of Lucknow, media reports indicate.
Many of the victims had gathered to watch a cricket match Sunday evening in a village near the state capital Lucknow.
Nine people undergoing treatment at various hospitals died during treatment increasing the toll to 28, an official was quoted by The Hindu.
Over 160 people have been admitted to medical facilities, with condition of 12 of them continues to be critical and many more on respirators. Some had lost their eyesight.
Confirming the latest deaths, an official said the toll was likely to go up.
Police arrested the shop owner who sold the pouches of homemade alcohol. They have also arrested Pyare Lal, the supplier of the illicit liquor while his accomplices are still at large. A raid of the shop uncovered large containers of chemicals, which were sent to a laboratory for testing, district official R.K. Pandey said.
Dr. Kausar Usman, head of the trauma center at Lucknow’s King George’s Medical College was quoted, The symptoms gave a clear indication that these patients were served methyl alcohol,” which despite being toxic is sometimes mixed with ethyl alcohol to make a brew cheaper, said.
Villagers alleged that the shop was well known for selling inexpensive alcohol, and that many men came from surrounding villages to buy it.
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mr. Akilesh Yadav, suspended six police officers suspected of taking bribes to ignore complaints about the shop and its alcohol.
Seeking an explanation on the tragedy from the States excise commissioner, he also directed officials to launch a massive drive against sale and manufacturing of such spurious liquor across the State.
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