Ghaziabad, March 4 (IANS) At least 35 people have died and nearly as many were critically ill after consuming spurious liquor in Ghaziabad and Bulandshahr districts of Uttar Pradesh in pre- and post-Holi celebrations, police said Thursday.

At least 24 persons are critically ill in various hospitals of Meerut, Ghaziabad and Bulandshahr.

Of the 24 critically ill people, six have lost their eyesight, police added.

Both Ghaziabad and Bulandshahr districts fall in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Two police officers and two excise officials have been suspended after the hooch deaths.

Two alleged hooch suppliers have been arrested and two men suspected to be involved in the incident have been detained for questioning.

The toll in Garh Mukteswar, Simbhaoli and Bahadurgarh police station areas of Ghaziabad district has gone up to 20, while 15 people have died due to consumption of spurious liquor in Bulandshahr district.

'We have busted the entire gang engaged in supplying hooch and will hold a press conference in this regard tomorrow (Friday),' Senior Superintendent of Police Raghuvir Lal said.