Spurious liquor claimed 31 more lives today, taking the toll in the hooch tragedy at Mograhat in South 24 Parganas district to 98. More than 60 people are battling for their lives in several hospitals, official sources said, adding the casualty might go up.
The fresh deaths were reported from various hospitals since early morning, they said. All the people fell ill after consuming spurious liquor from several illegal joints yesterday. Most of the dead were labourers, rickshaw-pullers and hawkers.
The state government yesterday announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each to the families of the deceased.