📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Bernard Gagnon
Crime
Eight dead, 61 hospitalized after spurious liquor poisoning in Bhavnagar, Gujarat
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 22 Aug 2026, 11:04 PM
👁 5
A batch of illicit liquor consumed in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, has killed eight people and left 61 others requiring medical care, officials said.
Police in Bhavnagar confirmed that a batch of spurious liquor circulated in the city on Wednesday, leading to eight fatalities and 61 people being admitted to hospitals with symptoms of poisoning. The victims, ranging from young adults to senior citizens, reportedly consumed the drink at a local gathering before falling ill. Health officials identified acute methanol poisoning as the likely cause, a common contaminant in illicit alcohol.
The Gujarat state government has launched an investigation to trace the source of the illegal brew and to apprehend those responsible for its manufacture and distribution. Local law enforcement agencies have sealed several premises suspected of being involved in the production of the counterfeit liquor and are conducting forensic tests on seized bottles.
Families of the deceased have been notified, and compensation is being arranged under the state's victim assistance scheme. The incident has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of the state's prohibition laws and heightened public awareness about the dangers of consuming unregulated alcohol.
Health authorities continue to monitor the condition of the hospitalized patients, many of whom remain in critical care. The district medical officer urged residents to avoid any unlicensed alcoholic beverages and to report suspicious activities to the police immediately.
The Gujarat state government has launched an investigation to trace the source of the illegal brew and to apprehend those responsible for its manufacture and distribution. Local law enforcement agencies have sealed several premises suspected of being involved in the production of the counterfeit liquor and are conducting forensic tests on seized bottles.
Families of the deceased have been notified, and compensation is being arranged under the state's victim assistance scheme. The incident has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of the state's prohibition laws and heightened public awareness about the dangers of consuming unregulated alcohol.
Health authorities continue to monitor the condition of the hospitalized patients, many of whom remain in critical care. The district medical officer urged residents to avoid any unlicensed alcoholic beverages and to report suspicious activities to the police immediately.