Toxic liquor kills 37 in Northern India

At least 37 people were killed after drinking toxic liquor in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, police said Saturday. Police said the tragic incident happened in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh after the victims, majority of them laborers and poor consumed the locally made poisonous alcohol on Friday night. "They took the tainted liquor since it is available on very cheap prices in the markets," police said "We believe the dead addicts might have drunk rectified spirit mixed with water. Such spirits are easily available on local shops," Police said, adding, spirit content in such drinks is between 90 to 95 degrees. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has suspended local tax inspector and ten other officials for negligence of duties. He has also ordered a probe to look into the causes of the deaths. Earlier, in 2008, a dozen people were killed in the same district of Uttar Pradesh following consumption of toxic liquor.