HAMIRPUR: Four laborers engaged by a private contractor died due to consuming of suspected illicit spirit near Bharari village of the Bilaspur district of the state Friday. The dead belong to Phillaur area of Punjab, according to an official spokesman.

They dead were engaged by a private contractor for the painting job and they felt uneasiness after taking food. They started vomiting and two of them died at the spot. Two others also lost their lives at the Bilaspur and Bharari hospitals. The dead were yet to be identified.

The spokesman said that the Bharari police had registered a case and further investigations in the case were on. The contractor has also been rounded up for investigations.