At least 37 people have died from adulterated alcohol in the state of Bihar in eastern India. “More than two dozen people lost their lives in the last 48 hours,” a police officer told AFP today. A total of 37 deaths have been reported so far. The official could not confirm the information that there must be more than 70 dead.
Relatives of the victims said people from several villages drank a locally brewed liquor known as “Mahua” or “Desi Daru” at a wedding and other celebrations on Monday.
After that, many complained of abdominal pain and loss of vision and vomited. According to the information, more than 20 people had died until Thursday, and about a dozen were still hospitalized.
Prohibition feeds black market
Alcohol consumption is banned in the state of Bihar, leading to a thriving black market in homemade and sometimes deadly drinks. In recent days, the police have arrested more than a hundred people linked to the illegal production of alcohol, having seized 600 liters of adulterated alcohol.
Authorities use drones, helicopters and motorboats to fight black market trafficking. Hundreds of people die every year in India as a result of drinking contaminated alcohol.