Another 15 people were sickened in the village near Ghaziabad, 400 km southwest of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh state, according to M.M. Baig, a senior local police official.
The demand for alcohol had risen sharply over the last week because of the Hindu festival of colors, Holi, which was celebrated on Monday, Baig said. People throw colored powder and water on each other during Holi, and many revelers also drink during the celebrations.
On Feb. 27, six people died from drinking tainted liquor in the same area, Baig said.
Most of the victims who drank the tainted brew on Tuesday night were poor farmers and laborers, looking for a cheap means of intoxication.
Deaths from drinking illegally brewed liquor are common in Uttar Pradesh because few poor people can afford legally sold alcohol. The illicit liquor is often spiked with pesticides or chemicals to increase its potency.
Last week, police seized more than 25,000 liters (50,000 pints) of illegal liquor in the state, according to Brij Lal, a senior police official.
Last year, more than 120 people died from drinking illegally brewed liquor in the western state of Gujarat, where the sale of all alcohol is banned.
