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THE DEATH TOLL from India’s latest incident of mass alcohol poisoning following the consumption of toxic home-made vodka rose to 90 today, Mumbai police said.
Dhananjay Kulkarni, deputy police commissioner in the western Indian city, said it was possible that the number of dead from drinking the illicit moonshine could reach three figures.
“Ninety people have now died,” he said. “More than 40 are being treated in hospital and the death toll may reach 100,” the commissioner added.
Victims first started to fall ill on Wednesday morning after consuming the illegal booze and new patients were still being admitted to hospital on Saturday, Kulkarni said.
Five people have so far been arrested for distributing and selling the alcohol in a slum in the suburb of Malad West, in the north of the city.
Eight police officers have also been suspended for “negligence” for allowing the sale to take place on their patch, Kulkarni said.
An investigation is taking place over whether high levels of methanol were present in the moonshine, often called “country liquor” in India.
Methanol, a highly toxic form of alcohol used as anti-freeze or fuel, is often added to bootleg liquor in India as a cheap and quick method of upping the alcohol content.
Unlicensed liquor is widely consumed across the country where it is sometimes sold for less than a dollar for a 25cl bottle, with deaths frequently reported.
It is rare however for such incidents to occur in a major city like Mumbai, with most cases taking place in poor, rural villages.
The latest incident is the worst case of its kind to be recorded in Mumbai since 2004 when around 100 people died.
In January, more than 31 people died near Lucknow in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh after drinking a lethal batch of home-brew.
And police arrested 12 people in October 2013 after more than three dozen villagers died from toxic liquor also in Uttar Pradesh.
In 2011 nearly 170 people died in the eastern state of West Bengal after drinking moonshine.
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I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but, A Star is Born, for all its hype, was a fairly bog standard, run of the mill, snooze fest.
The main song is a decent tune though.
@J.D. Finnerty: a remake of a remake, with a story as boring as it is predictable (even if you haven’t seen the others). Hard to believe it got such acclaim.
@J.D. Finnerty: Completely agree. Ga Ga was good but Bradley Cooper just annoys me. Main song was the only decent song in it.
@J.D. Finnerty: yeah, you’re on your own. Not met a single person yet who didn’t adore it. And that includes men who never cry. Who admitted crying.
@J.D. Finnerty: you should be alone in this. It was not bog standard at all
You Were Never Really Here had a screenplay???
The critics really hated Bohemian Rhapsody, while everyone that I know who watched adored it. I don’t get it. Malek has to win an Oscar. It’s the best acting performance I’ve seen in years.
@JJ O Riordan: huge fan of Freddie and the band but had to be honest the movie was a let down…. It’s like they tried sensoring everything
@JJ O Riordan: but Malek was brilliant to be honest. Will he win? I’d say Bradley Cooper will
@Nikas Peckeliunas: An outstanding performance, I saw a comparison someone did of Queen’s Live Aid set and that of Malek’s for the movie. Initially they started out somewhat sceptical but were truly astounded, Rami Malek had Freddie’s every move memorised, down to how he held the microphone, how he stood. Even the remaining band members blessed, themselves initially wary, gave this performance a glowing endorsement.
@Nikas Peckeliunas:
Spelling please, its censoring.
@Power Aine: it’s it’s.
Three billboards is head and shoulders above everything else…should have won the Oscar for best original screenplay…a fantastic read
@Damien Aulsberry: ya that was a brilliant movie imo.
@Damien Aulsberry: Cannot believe that 3 billboards doesn’t even the top 10 on this list. Much better movie than ladybird.
“First Man” is movie of the year for me by a long shot: absolutely one of the most moving and inspiring films I’ve ever seen. Deserves to clean up in awards for Cinematography, Sound & Editing, Adapted Screenplay, Direction and that wonderful score by Justin Hurwitz. Would give nods as well to Claire Foy as Janet Armstrong and Ryan Gosling for his suitably restrained and under-stated performance as Neil Armstrong.
@Sean May: I thought it was boring. An amazing achievement considering the subject matter
No point in watching them on Irish TV add free telly highly recommended ha
“upgrade” definitely the best Sci-fi movie of 2018 anyways.. If you haven’t checked it out, I’d highly recommended.. This is coming from a movie connoisseur :)
@Acedeuce: ” hereditary ” is also hands down the best horror movie of 2018.. Genuinely creepy, atmospheric, good acting.. No usual cheap jump scares. Solid proper horror film.
You were never really here and blackkklansman are 2 of the most rubbish films I’ve ever seen
@Kieran Stafford: yeah Blackkklansman was terrible. The handful of jokes were in the trailer.
Jingle all the way .. and .. Air Bud 3 ..both on T.v today
So she got away with it
Gosnell is worth a watch but it won’t be shown anywhere.
You Were Never Really Here had a screenplay??
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