At least 19 people died in two separate areas of India’s northeastern state of Nagaland over the past two days after consuming a suspected spurious alcoholic drink, police confirmed on Saturday.
Eleven deaths were reported from Tuensang, while eight people reportedly died in Mokokchung.
Nagaland has been a dry state for more than three and a half decades, with the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks completely banned.
The Nagaland government has set up a special task force to trace the source of the suspected spurious drink, while several people have been arrested in connection with the deaths, local police said.