"We have got 12 bodies here at the Golaghat Civil Hospital. Apart from these, there are reports of death of people from adjoining areas of the tea estate," Golaghat Additional Deputy Commissioner Dhiraj told IANS.
He said they have referred 27 others to the Jorhat Medical College for better treatment and condition of some is serious.
Locals said several people consumed liquor in the estate from a particular seller on Thursday night. Several of them took ill immediately and many have not even been hospitalised.
They also complained about a nexus between police authorities and illegal liquor sellers.