Tainted Liquor Kills 84 in India

Dozens more are hospitalized
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 20, 2015 12:26 PM CDT
Tainted Liquor Kills 84 in India
Family members of Raja Ludraswami Harjan, who died after drinking tainted liquor, cry at his funeral in Mumbai, India, Saturday.   (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)

A batch of toxic alcohol is taking a deadly toll on residents of a slum near Mumbai. Authorities say at least 84 people are dead and more than 30 hospitalized since drinking the alcohol Wednesday night. Police have arrested five suspects and suspended eight police officers for negligence, reports the Wall Street Journal. The BBC reports that such deaths aren't uncommon in India. It cites several similar incidents, including one in 2011 in which about 170 people died and another earlier this year in which nearly 30 died. The illegal booze is popular among the poor, and it's often laced with chemicals for an extra kick, notes the New York Times. (More India stories.)

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