Twenty-one people have been reported dead, while 10 are in hospital after drinking cheap alcohol (moonshine), authorities said on Tuesday.

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Hundreds of people die every year in India from drinking cheap alcohol made in backstreet distilleries.

To increase its potency, the liquor is often spiked with methanol that can cause blindness, liver damage and death.

The latest incident happened late on Monday after villagers in the Amritsar district, in the northern state of Punjab, drank liquor laced with methanol.

“Now death toll is 21. And 10 admitted in hospitals,” said Amritsar’s district’s public relations officer in a statement.

Nine people have been arrested, Punjab police said in a post on X (Twitter).

“Investigation is underway to uncover the entire modus operandi and to bring all involved to justice,” it said.

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann said those responsible would be punished.

Last year, 53 people were killed after drinking moonshine in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Vanguard News