24 die after drinking toxic liquor in eastern India

Feb 8, 2012, 11:03 GMT

New Delhi - At least 24 people died after drinking illegally-brewed poisonous alcohol in India's eastern state of Orissa, media reports said Wednesday.

The deaths occurred in the Cuttack and Khorda districts adjoining state capital Bhubaneshwar starting Tuesday, the IANS news agency reported.

Officials said the brew was laced with drugs used to treat coughs and colds and contained a high percentage of alcohol.

State official SN Girish told the news agency that the first death on Tuesday morning was that of the liquor seller, Baidhar Bhoi.

More deaths took place during Tuesday and the toll climbed to 24 by Wednesday afternoon. The death toll could increase as 20 people were in a critical condition.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered a judicial probe. Three people, said to be relatives of the kingpin of the illicit business, were arrested.

The illegal liquor trade thrives in India because it is much cheaper than commercially produced alcohol.

Nearly 200 people have died after drinking illicit alcohol in states of West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh since December.

A total of 1,202 people died of consuming dodgy alcohol in the country in 2010, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.