Bangalore, May 19: With the death of 17 more people in hospitals, the toll in the liquor tragedy in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri climbed to 44 today.

The killer brew pushed up the toll in Karnataka to 35 as 16 more people died in Bangalore and Kolar.

While 12 were declared dead in two hospitals in Bangalore, four died in Kolar today, police said.

In Devrajeevanahalli in Bangalore city, illicit liquor has so far claimed 17 lives, police sources said here today.

Another 22 were battling for their lives in the two city hospitals at Bowring and Dr Ambedkar hospital.

In Kolar, the toll mounted to 18, police said.

Nine labourers, who yesterday consumed the liquor bought from Bangalore have died so far in Dhinamangalam village in Krishnagiri district on Karnataka-Tamil Nadu borders.

So far no person has been arrested in connection with the sale of hooch in the city, whereas eight vendors have been picked up in Kolar, police said.

Investigations are on to trace out the persons from whom the victims had been able to procure the liquor. Some persons have been rounded up and were grilled to trace the culprits, the sources said.