India toxic alcohol toll tops 100

Most of the victims are poor slum dwellers

The number of people who have died in the western Indian state of Gujarat after drinking toxic illegal alcohol has now risen to 107, police say.

Meanwhile, in raids across the state, police have detained over 800 people and Chief Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to punish those responsible.

In Ahmedabad city, where the deaths have taken place, schools and colleges have shut in protest.

Officials say the final toll may be higher as more people are in hospital.

Most of the dead are slum dwellers. Gujarat is a "dry" state where the sale of alcohol is banned.

But deaths from illegally brewed alcohol are common in South Asia.

Last year, about 150 people died from drinking tainted alcohol in the southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

'Done nothing'

"The way more than 100 people have died because of hooch tragedy... is really shameful on the part of the state government," news agency Reuters quoted Manish Doshi, a leader of the youth wing of the state opposition Congress party, as saying.

India's toxic liquor tragedy

"It's been three days since the tragedy took place and the government has done nothing," he said.

The Youth Congress and the Congress-supported students' association National Students' Union of India (NSUI) called on schools and colleges in the city to remain shut.

The Congress has also called for the resignation of Chief Minister Narendra Modi who belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Slum dwellers and poor labourers in Ahmedabad were first admitted to hospital on Tuesday after they fell ill following a night of drinking.

After the fatalities rose sharply, the state government suspended six policemen for negligence.

Illegally brewed alcohol is readily found across India and is popular because it is cheap and said to be stronger than legal brews.

But it is often laced with chemicals and pesticides in an attempt to boost its strength and has often caused people to die.

Gujarat is a "dry" state where consumption and sale of alcohol is banned.

It was the home state of India's independence leader, Mohandas Gandhi, who was a strong advocate of prohibition.