NEW DELHI, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh after consuming spurious liquor, police said Thursday.
Officials said the deceased were taken ill after consuming the liquor on Tuesday in Ballia district, about 384 km east of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.
"Five people have lost their lives in Ballia after consuming spurious liquor,"a senior police officer Vaibhav Krishna told media. "Three of the deceased have been cremated by family members yesterday without informing the police while bodies of other two have been sent for post mortem."
The local administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the deaths.
In July this year 40 people were killed and many others taken ill after consuming spurious country made bootleg liquor in Etah district of the state.
In Indian states of Bihar and Gujarat, alcohol is totally prohibited by law.
Spurious alcohol deaths are often reported in India, where people often drink cheap country made bootleg liquor.
