At least 27 people have died from adulterated alcohol in eastern India. Most of the victims came from poor families, the police in the state of Bihar said today. They drank cheap local alcohol known as Desi Daru. Local media spoke of 40 dead.
Alcohol is banned in the state. However, there is plenty of high-proof, and sometimes deadly, illegally distilled liquor on the black market. Initial investigations into the recent deaths revealed that toxic methanol had been mixed into the spirits drunk.
The first deaths became known on Saturday. Since then, more than 170 people suspected of illegally producing or selling alcohol have been arrested, according to police. During searches, 900 liters of adulterated spirits were confiscated and destroyed.
