1st LD Writethru: 13 killed by poisonous liquor in northern India
Xinhua, January 12, 2015 Adjust font size:
Thirteen people died in two separate incidents Monday after consuming illicit liquor in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police said.
Death toll could rise as more than two dozen people were admitted to hospitals in the state capital Lucknow where the condition of 18 is said to be "very critical."
The first incident occurred at a village in Malihabad, the mango belt of the state where five people died while consuming the home made liquor also called "moonshine", while at least five others died after being sent to hospitals.
Three other persons died after consuming spurious liquor in another village near the state capital Lucknow.
Poisonous liquors, made of industrial chemicals, were openly sold in the villages without being stopped by authorities, said police.
The state government has suspended an excise inspector and four other personnel for dereliction of duty, an official spokesman said. Endi