Scientists are hard at work in the Forensics Science Laboratory (KFSL) in Kalina to fast-track the probe pertaining to the Hooch tragedy, that unfolded in Malvani slum neighbourhood on June 19. Meanwhile, the death toll of patients, who had consumed the spurious liquor, is rising by the day. On Monday, the toll touched 102; 46 are still admitted to various hospitals.

Four days into the incident, KFSL has received 70 biological samples of the living and deceased affected by the tragedy. “Twenty-five samples of viscera from the deceased have been received in two batches from cops. Also, stomach wash, blood and urine of the patients has been received for analysis,” said an official from the toxicology department. Officials are expecting to receive more samples from doctors and cops.

The toxicologists are analysing the stomach and intestine samples to determine the amount of alcohol consumed, while liver, spleen, kidney and heart will be analysed to determine the amount of alcohol absorbed by these organs. After consuming country liquor from various 'addas,' in Malwani, hundreds of victims dropped dead, suffered from loss of vision, breathless, vomited and were hospitalised.

Investigations have revealed that the bootleggers used to sell a pouch of 200ml liquor for Rs10. The victims had consumed one or more pouches of such liquor and later taken ill. Scientists said consuming anywhere between 30ml and 240 ml of methyl alcohol (which is being deemed spurious), can cause fatal or nearly fatal toxicities in the body.

“Initial tests on a few samples have revealed that either only methyl alcohol or a mix of methyl and ethyl alcohol had been consumed. We are yet to collate the entire report,” said the official. “We suspect that poisonous methyl alcohol found it's way into the 'adda,' and was swapped for the regular ethyl alcohol country liquor regularly consumed by the revellers. Others may have consumed a mix of the poisonous and non-poisonous liquor, which is reflected in their viscera tests.”

Also ethyl alcohol, which is used to make spirits like beer, wine, whisky and other liquor, if had in high quantities within less than an hour, can result in death. “The fatal dose of alcohol is 300-400ml of pure ethanol (100% spirit) for the average adult if consumed in less than an hour. So, if a litre of whisky, which has 50% spirit level is consumed by an adult, it can cause deadly side effects or lead the person's death. While whisky and vodka have high alcohol levels, up to 98%, in beer the level ranges up to 15%. In wines, levels may range up to 22%,” said the official.

It is suspected that instead of ethyl alcohol, which is the regular alcohol fit for consumption, victims had consumed methyl alcohol, a substance used as a solvent for industrial purposes. “The viscera is being subjected to processes such as 'gas chromatography,' to ascertain the levels of methyl and ethyl alcohol in the samples. These results can then be extrapolated to the height and weight of the living or the deceased, to figure out the amount of dose consumed, which may have turned fatal or excruciatingly sickening for the victim,” he added.