On Thursday, Gujarat closed down 1,200 liquor dens and arrested over 800 illegal brewers.

A home department official monitoring the police raids said: 'A majority of those arrested deal in country liquor in ghettos in cities, townships and villages.'

A police team has also been rushed to Memahdabad, about 35 km from here, to hunt for the person who is believed to have manufactured and supplied the illicit liquor that led to the tragedy. Information about him was given by notorious bootlegger Harishankar Kahar, who was detained by the Crime Branch here Wednesday night.

The government has also announced a four-member commission headed by a former Gujarat High Court judge to probe the tragedy. It will submit its findings by Nov 30.

Gujarat is the country's only state where sale and consumption of liquor is banned in deference to Mahatma Gandhi, a Gujarati who was passionately opposed to liquor.

This has led to a proliferation of illegal liquor dens, whose home-made brew is mostly consumed by those from low income families who can't afford high priced drinks available outside the state.