At least 39 people died and another 27 fell sick from drinking cheap fake liquor in northern India, officials said Saturday.

Senior police officer Ashok Kumar said 26 died in two separate incidents in the state of Uttar Pradesh, 190 miles east of capital New Delhi. Thirteen others died in the neighboring state of Uttarakhand.

Kumar said victims consumed liquor during two customary functions on Thursday night, adding that the post-mortem and initial forensic reports suggested the brew was laced with methanol.

Police arrested eight suspected bootleggers.

Deaths from illegally brewed alcohol are common in India because the poor cannot afford licensed brands. Illicit liquor is cheap and often spiked with chemicals such as pesticides to increase potency.