Toxic moonshine kills scores in India
June 21, 2015
The victims first started falling ill on Wednesday morning with new patients still being admitted at weekend, Kulkarni said.
Police on Sunday said the death toll from the mass poisoning had risen to 94, with the possibility that there would be more fatalities.
"More than 150 have consumed this alcohol," said Mumbai deputy police commissioner Dhananjay Kulkarni. "The death toll may rise."
At least five suspected bootleggers have so far been arrested for distributing and selling the moonshine in the Mumbai slum of Malad West, in the north of the city. Four officers of the Indian Excise Department were also said to have been suspended for negligence.
Widespread problem
Tests are under way to see if methanol was present in the liquor, often known as "country liquor."
Unlicensed alcohol is popular across India, in large part because it is so cheap. Deaths are frequently reported, although normally in much lower numbers.
In 2011, more than 140 people died after drinking homemade moonshine in India's West Bengal state.
The problem of deaths from poisoning as a result of drinking home-brewed alcohol is not confined to India. Earlier this month, Nigerian officials said some 68 people had died from consuming toxic ogogoro, or home-brewed gin.
rc/bw (AFP, dpa, Reuters)