India: At least 90 die after drinking bootleg liquor

By Ahmad Adil

CHANDIGARH, India (AA) - Over 90 people have died in the last 48 hours while at least 100 are receiving treatment after consuming bootleg liquor in the northeastern state of Assam, officials said on Saturday.

Officials said tea plantation laborers from Assam’s Golaghat and Jorhat districts consumed the contaminated homemade liquor that caused the poisoning on Thursday night.

The authorities have ordered an inquiry into the incident which local media sources said has caused 102.

Golaghat Deputy Commissioner Dhiren Hazarika told Anadolu Agency that 59 people had died in his district with 120 in the hospital.

"The liquor was sold illegally. We have initiated strong action against those who are responsible for this tragedy," he added.

Bipul Das, a senior administrative official in Jorhat district said information regarding the deaths of 35 people had so far emerged.

"The number of tea plantation workers who died after consuming toxic illicit liquor in Assam has gone up to 102. More than 350 people are in hospital," reported local broadcaster NDTV.

It added that seven people have been arrested in the related police investigation.

The poisoning comes after a similar incident in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, where 100 people were killed earlier this month.