The death count in West Bengal's hooch tragedy rose to 171 as more succumbed to the moonshine they had consumed. Around 90 people are battling for their lives. "So far 171 people have died," a health department official said.

Three days after one of India's worst hooch tragedies began claiming lives, the government suspended Rajeshwar Pandey, an excise officer in charge of Diamond Harbour range, for "not conducting raids properly" against illegal liquor dens.