India, May 15 -- Preliminary investigations into the Amritsar hooch tragedy - that has claimed 23 lives over two days - have revealed that methanol, popularly known as methyl alcohol, was used in the production of spurious liquor.

According to health experts, methanol used to brew alcohol is highly hazardous. They said consumption of even 60ml of methanol could cause death.

According to experts, ethyl alcohol (extra neutral alcohol or ENA) that is used in conventional brewing of liquor and not the methyl alcohol.

Forensic medicine expert Dr DS Bhullar, who is former president of the Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers' association, said: "About 60 to 240ml of methyl alcohol would kill most adults, while as little as 15ml is known ...