Fourteen people, including four members of a family, died after consuming spurious liquor in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district, about 50 kilometres from here.
According to the police sources, the toll could go up as over a dozen people were battling for their lives in the hospitals.
Sources said that the victims, who hailed from different villages in the district, had purchased 'kacchi' (illicit liquor) from a shop at Raniganj market on Monday night.
They complained of vomiting, dizziness, loss of eyesight and severe abdominal pain soon after drinking the spurious liquor and were rushed to the nearby primary and community health centres.
Fourteen victims died before they could be referred to the KG Medical College hospitals and other government medical facilities in the state capital, sources said.
The deceased included four members of a family, police said adding that many of the victims were stated to be critical.
Taking a strong view of the incident, the state government has suspended ten officials, including the district excise inspector, circle officer and the in-charge of the local police station on charges of laxity.
A probe had been ordered into the incident and the probe committee had been asked to submit its report within 48-hours, sources said.
The state government has also announced a financial compensation of rs, two lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased.
Last year also eleven people had died after consuming spurious liquor at Deva and Ramnagar areas in the same district.