Three people died and around 44 have been hospitalized after they consumed spurious liquor at Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh' Sitapur district recently.

The incident occurred on the evening of February 20 after the deceased had drunk the spurious liquor at a local liquor shop in Mahul Nagar panchayat under the Ahraula Police Station.

The owner of the shop, Kanhaiyya Lal is absconding.

"The incident took place on the evening of February 20. Three people died after consuming spurious liquor and 44 were hospitalised of which six-seven patients are on dialysis," Azamgarh district magistrate Amrit Tripathi.

"The condition of the remaining patients are however, normal now," said Tripathi.

"The police have arrested two salesmen from the shop and the owner will be arrested soon as we are initiating action against them under National Security Act," Tripathi added.

Further investigations into the case are underway.

(With Inputs from ANI)