Mysterious brew claims 4 in Campbell Bay, 13 ill

Port Blair, Mar 25 (UNI) Four people died and 13 took ill after drinking a mysterious brew mistaking it for spirit, police today said.

The incident occurred at Campbell Bay, the southern-most Island of Andaman and Nicobar chain. Police said the transparent liquid has properties similar to spirit and looks and smells like liquor.

The thirteen people who fell ill were rushed to G B Pant Hospital yesterday for treatment, police added.

The dead, all below thirty, found the brew in a drum floating on the sea near the Nariyal Bagicha Area, close to North East Navy Dera of Campbell Bay Island on Friday last.

''The 200 litre drum was found by six people at the seashore from which they took out 10 litres for their consumption,'' T. Sabastien, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Campbell Island told the media.

Budhuwa Ram, Jaipal Sai, Sanjay Kirketta and Rakesh Mandal died on March 21 at the Campbell Bay Hospital, where they were admitted after complaining of nausea, stomach pain and loss of vision.

Later, 13 others were admitted in the hospital with similar symptoms. According to hospital sources all of them, including the two brought to Port Blair for specialized treatment, were recovering.

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