UP: Death toll in hooch tragedy rises to 42

Azamgarh: Another 10 people have died in hospitals after drinking toxic bootleg liquor in Uttar Pradesh, police said Sunday, raising the death toll to 42 in the past three days.

Some 40 people are being treated in hospitals in Uttar Pradesh state, said District Magistrate Neena Sharma.

Police arrested 32 people for illegally brewing and selling the toxic drink to the villagers, who were celebrating Dussehra in Azamgarh district last week, Sharma said.

Deaths from drinking illegally brewed alcohol are common in India because the poor cannot afford licensed liquor. Illicit liquor is often spiked with chemicals such as pesticides to increase potency.