Six die, several ill after consuming hooch in West Bengal’s Howrah district

Kolkata, July 20(Reporters Today Bureau): As many as six people died and several others fell ill alleged after consuming country liquor in West Bengal’s Howrah district on Wednesday.

The police have arrested the owner of the liquor shop identified as Pratap Karmakar.

These people had consumed the country liquor on Tuesday night in the Malipanchghora area, the police said.

Most of those who had fallen ill were hospitalized and six of them died this morning. We are waiting for the post-mortem examination report to ensure the cause of the death. We have arrested the owner of the shop and sent alcohol samples from there for chemical examination,” a police official said.

The condition of few, however, is  stated to be “critical”.

The authorities have sealed the shop.