24 die after drinking spurious liquor in India

At least 24 people died in the eastern Indian state of Orissa after consuming spurious liquor laced with medicines, said government officials in the state capital Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, The incidents took place in the Cuttack and Khordha districts of the state. The victims fell ill Tuesday after taking the drink which contained drugs for treating cough and cold and, and to heal wounds, said the officials. Among the dead was a village hawker of the liquor. The toll could rise as 20 others who drank the liquor, also called hooch or moonshine here, are fighting for their life in hospital. Deaths from drinking spurious liquor are common in India. Over 100 died after drinking spurious liquor in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal in December.