Over 100 die in illicit liquor disaster in India

More than 100 people have died so far after they consumed spurious country-made liquor, known as hooch, late on Tuesday night in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, police said Thursday. Another 50 people are still fighting for their lives in several hospitals, including some in various hospitals in state capital Kolkata, after they consumed illicit liquor at several joints across four villages in the state's South 24 Parganas district. The death toll is likely to go up. Police have arrested four people for supplying hooch in Sangrampur, Magrahat, Usthi and Mandirbazar villages in South 24 Parganas district. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the state government was planning to demolish illegal liquor dens spread across the state. "I have seen many people die in hooch tragedies on several occasions. And they keep recurring. I urge help from the society and others to rise above political barriers and help in doing away with this social evil," she told a local TV channel. Describing the deaths as "unfortunate," the Chief Minister said "We have to run an awareness program. If the illegal distilleries are regularized the government can earn revenue. But that would be a disservice to the society." In fact, hooch is banned in India, but it's available across the country, particularly in rural and sub-urban areas. Toxic alcohol deaths are also a regular occurrence in India. The illicit liquor is usually spiked with methyl alcohol and industrial spirits which can lead to fits, vomiting and death. Hooch usually costs as little as 10 rupees (20 U.S. cents) and the majority of the consumers are poor, daily wage workers. India has witnessed many incidents of illicit liquor deaths. In 2010, ten died in the southern state of Tamil Nadu and in 2009, 107 died in the western state of Gujarat due to illicit liquor. India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government in Gujarat has taken the strongest action on toxic liquor so far. It has come up with a new law intended to deter those involved in the illegal trade.