India toxic alcohol kills 80 in West Bengal
India toxic alcohol kills 80 in West Bengal
Relatives gathered at the Diamond Harbour hospital after the news broke
Some 100 others are being treated in hospital in the Diamond Harbour area, with fears the death toll could rise.
Toxic alcohol deaths are a regular occurrence in India.
Last week, the state of Gujarat brought in a new law making the illegal manufacture and sale of toxic alcohol there punishable by death.
Ransacked
The BBC's Amitabha Bhattasali in Calcutta says that 32 people have died overnight, pushing up the death toll from 48 from Wednesday evening.
A large number of people were also admitted to hospitals overnight with symptoms of alcohol poisoning
About 70 people are in a critical condition, state government minister Shyamal Mandal told the BBC.
"More and more people are turning up with symptoms of liquor poisoning and one local hospital is now overcrowded," district administrator NS Nigam told the AFP news agency.
Gujarat is one state that has taken drastic action to try to prevent toxic alcohol deaths
Some of the critically ill had been transferred to Calcutta, he said.
Medicines and doctors were being rushed to the Diamond Harbour hospital.
Four breweries were ransacked after the deaths began to be reported, AFP quoted officials as saying.
Illegal alcohol - commonly called desi daroo or country-made liquor in India - usually costs as little as 10 rupees (20 US cents) and the majority of the consumers are poor, daily-wage workers.
The liquor is usually spiked with methyl alcohol and industrial spirits which can lead to fits, vomiting and death.
India has witnessed many incidents of toxic alcohol deaths.
Gujarat, Mizoram and Nagaland are the only states in India where alcohol is totally prohibited by law.
Relatives gathered at the Diamond Harbour hospital after the news broke
At least 80 people have died after consuming toxic alcohol in India's West Bengal state, police say.
Several residents of the Magrahat, Usthi and Mandirbazar areas in South 24 Parganas district fell ill after drinking the alcohol on Tuesday night. Four people have been arrested.Some 100 others are being treated in hospital in the Diamond Harbour area, with fears the death toll could rise.
Toxic alcohol deaths are a regular occurrence in India.
Last week, the state of Gujarat brought in a new law making the illegal manufacture and sale of toxic alcohol there punishable by death.
Ransacked
The BBC's Amitabha Bhattasali in Calcutta says that 32 people have died overnight, pushing up the death toll from 48 from Wednesday evening.
A large number of people were also admitted to hospitals overnight with symptoms of alcohol poisoning
About 70 people are in a critical condition, state government minister Shyamal Mandal told the BBC.
"More and more people are turning up with symptoms of liquor poisoning and one local hospital is now overcrowded," district administrator NS Nigam told the AFP news agency.
Gujarat is one state that has taken drastic action to try to prevent toxic alcohol deaths
Medicines and doctors were being rushed to the Diamond Harbour hospital.
Four breweries were ransacked after the deaths began to be reported, AFP quoted officials as saying.
Illegal alcohol - commonly called desi daroo or country-made liquor in India - usually costs as little as 10 rupees (20 US cents) and the majority of the consumers are poor, daily-wage workers.
The liquor is usually spiked with methyl alcohol and industrial spirits which can lead to fits, vomiting and death.
India has witnessed many incidents of toxic alcohol deaths.
- At least 10 people killed in Tamil Nadu in February 2010
- At least 30 people killed in Uttar Pradesh in September 2009
- Some 107 people killed in Gujarat in July 2009
Gujarat, Mizoram and Nagaland are the only states in India where alcohol is totally prohibited by law.
With Courtesy of BBC
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