In one of the worst hooch tragedy Assam has witnessed in recent times, 38 people perished in three separate incidents in Upper Assam's Golaghat and Jorhat district.

In the worst affected Golaghat district, 26 perished in Salmora tea garden while in nearby Merapani another 4 died and in Titabor  8 more died of spurious liquor. Four more are struggling for life.

Some local hooch makers were arrested and an inquiry was ordered as the Ministers and MLAs rushed to the spot.

Terming it a "painful" incident, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday afternoon ordered an inquiry into the Salmara incident.

"It is an extremely painful incident. A high-level probe is being set up, which should be able to determine the cause of incident and lapses which could have led to such an incident."- CM said.

At least 22 people are now known to have died after consuming local wine 'Sulai' at Salmara tea garden in Golaghat. Dozens more people are being treated in local hospitals, with fears the death toll could rise.

Wine seller Sanju Orang though detained had been admitted to the hospital, after which he died.