Two women from ward 8 of Madhuwan Municipality of Bardiya died after drinking liquid, mistaking it for homemade liquor.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Hikmat Bahadur Bohara, information officer at Bardiya District Police Office, two local women aged 70 and 40 died after consuming the liquid.

Police said the condition of a couple, a 75-year-old man and his wife, who also drank the liquid is serious and are receiving treatment at the Banke-based Nepalgunj Medical Hospital.

“Two women had found the liquid at a dumping site some 4-5 days ago. Investigation suggests they brought it home and drank thinking it as a bootleg,” said DSP Bohara.

The 70-year-old woman died on Wednesday and the 40-year-old woman breathed her last yesterday night.

Locals performed the funeral rites of the septuagenarian woman on the day of her passing. However, security personnel on Friday took the body of another woman under control and sent it to Bardiya District Hospital for post-mortem.

Police Inspector Bakhat Bahadur Shahi said the liquid might be sanitiser, adding that an investigation was underway.