At least 65 people have died in India's western city of Ahmedabad after drinking bootleg liquor and the death toll could rise, police said.

The victims, mostly labourers, started vomiting and convulsing after drinking the liquor at the weekend in one of the city's slums.

"We can confirm 65 deaths so far and at least 23 more people are in a serious condition in hospitals," said a senior police officer, who asked not to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Police chief S.S.Khandwawala told reporters that at least 32 people have been arrested in connection with brewing and supplying the liquor.

Angry residents, however, shut down shops and protested in the streets against police inaction, and demanded immediate shutdown of several bootleg liquor factories in the state.

In May 2008, at least 180 people died in the southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in India's worst bootleg liquor tragedy.