72 die from bad liquor; officials suspended

The number of people who died after drinking illegally brewed alcohol in northern India rose to 72 Saturday as authorities began a crackdown and suspended police and officials. At least 64 people had died in Saharanpur and Haridwar, adjoining districts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand states, after drinking the poisonous liquor. Eight more deaths, blamed on tainted liquor, were reported in Kushinagar district, also in Uttar Pradesh, regional official BD Gupta said. In Saharanpur district, the death toll climbed from 16 to 36, top administrative official Alok Pandey said.

The liquor is suspected of being laced with methanol. Authorities in the region suspended over 30 officials on charges of negligence or collusion in the illicit trade.