What could have been New Year's Eve celebrations turned into mourning and tragedy in a village in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district on Saturday as eight people died and at least 10 others were battling for their lives after consuming spurious liquor.
According to police, among the eight dead, two are women, and the condition of 10 others is critical.
All belonged to Poratanagar village of Mylavaram mandal (block) in Krishna district, about 400 km from Hyderabad.
Those taken ill after consuming the liquor were admitted to hospitals at Mylavarm and Vijayawada.
Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana ordered a judicial probe into the incident. He also ordered suspension of two excise officials of Mylavaram.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said "action would be taken against the guilty." He directed the officials to provide all necessary assistance to the families of the victims.
Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader D. Umamaheswara Rao and relatives of the victims carried the bodies to the excise department office at Mylavaram. They were demanding compensation and action against those responsible for the tragedy.