By Dirk Godder

New Delhi - The consumption of adulterated liquor has claimed the lives of at least 15 people in northwest India , according to police reports.

In addition, ten people were in a critical condition due to the consumption of the illegally produced alcohol, said senior police officer Maninder Singh in the Amritsar district of the state of Punjab. They showed signs of intoxication.

The police reportedly arrested four people. They are suspected of producing the alcohol using chemical compounds and distributing it to residents of several villages.

Methanol was probably used in the production, it was said.

In India, hundreds of mostly poor people die every year because they drank adulterated liquor.

This is cheaper than commercially produced liquor, but is often laced with methanol or other substances that can lead to severe poisoning.

Five years ago, more than 100 people died in Punjab after drinking illegally distilled liquor.