In a fresh hooch tragedy in Karnataka, four people died and 15 others were hospitalised after drinking the brew at a marriage function in a village in Hassan district on Friday.

With this, the toll in the series of hooch tragedies that has struck parts of Karnataka and neighbouring Tamil Nadu since Sunday climbed to 174.

The latest incident occurred in Holalaholli village where the illicit liquor was served after the marriage ceremony.

Soon after consuming the brew, 19 people developed complications and four of them died.

Fifteen people were under treatment in a Hassan hospital and the condition of some of them was stated to be critical.

The police have arrested the liquor vendor Mahesh, who supplied the brew. The deceased have been identified as Maganna Gowda, Dharmaiah, Gowramma and Gulshappa.