Kolkata: The death toll in the hooch tragedy in West Bengal has climbed up steeply, with at least 123 people now dead. More than 300 people are battling for their lives in hospitals.
The liquor samples have been sent for forensic examination. At least four people have been arrested in raids across South 24 Parganas.
Most of the dead were poor labourers, rickshaw-pullers and hawkers, who fell ill after consuming the spurious liquor from several illegal joints since Tuesday night, police said.
They were brought to hospitals in Bangur and Diamond Harbor. The victims mostly complained of stomach pain, vomiting, chest pain and bodyache, doctors said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered a CID probe into the matter and promised a crackdown on illegal liquor vendors.
A medical team has been rushed to the area and the government has announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the family of each victim.
The post-mortem of 107 bodies has been done and the bodies were handed over to the families, police said.
Diamond Harbour and MR Bangur hospitals were crowded with hundreds of relatives of the victims and doctors attending to as many patients as possible.
The state health department has cancelled the leaves of all the doctors and para-medical staff to cope with the situation.
(With additional information from PTI)
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