22 people have died after consuming illicit liquor
In Uttar Pradesh, 22 people died after consuming illicit liquor in the Azamgarh district of the state. The liquor was bought from local shops.
Seven more are critically ill and have been admitted in the hospital. The liquor was consumed around three days ago.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav suspended 10 people, including the district excise inspector Om Prakash Singh. The state government also ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.
District Magistrate, Neena Sharma said prima facie the case appeared to be related to the consumption of rectified spirit.
Officials on condition of anonymity said at many local shops, rectified spirit mixed with water was being sold unchecked and at cheap rates.
While moonshine has 42 percent of alcohol, the rectified spirit has intensity varying between 90-95 per cent.
"This is a killer concoction," an official said.
A dozen people had died in Azamgarh in 2008 in a similar tragedy while six people had died in Soyepur village in Varanasi in 2010.