Moonshine kills six in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW - Six people died and six fell ill Wednesday after drinking illicit liquor in an Uttar Pradesh village, police said.

The incident occurred in Meerpur village of Bulandshahr district, about 400 km from Lucknow.

“The Meerpur residents drank liquor Tuesday. They bought it from a licensed country-made liquor shop in their locality. Their condition deteriorated in the night and they were then admitted to a hospital,” district police chief Nilesh Kumar told reporters in Bulandshahr.

“Of the 12 people hospitalised, six died while others are still under treatment. Of those being treated, the condition of four is critical,” he said.

Kumar said prima-facie it appears that the shop staff mixed methyl alcohol, a potent industrial alcohol, in the liquor and that made it poisonous.

“We have sealed the shop and detained some of its staff to probe the mishap,” said Kumar.

Last month, at least 16 people lost their lives in different villages of Varanasi district after drinking spurious liquor.