160 dead in India after drinking bootleg alcohol: police

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

CHENNAI, India (AFP) — The death toll from contaminated alcohol in southern India rose to 160 on Wednesday with people still drinking the lethal brew after the first reported deaths at the weekend, police said.

The number of dead in Karnataka state has risen sharply from 53 on Monday to 115, with neighbouring Tamil Nadu accounting for 45 deaths, said Sanjay Arora, a senior Tamil Nadu police officer.

Karnataka's capital Bangalore accounted for 89 deaths, the state's top police officer R. Srikumar told AFP.

"The toll could go up as victims, mostly casual workers and construction labourers, are battling for life at state-run hospitals in Bangalore and other districts," Srikumar said.

In Tamil Nadu, Arora said law enforcement officers had "held detailed...