Bhavnagar Spurious Liquor Tragedy: At Least 2 Dead, 19 Hospitalised; 4 Bootleggers Nabbed

Bhavnagar: At least two people have died and 19 others have been hospitalised after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Bhavnagar, prompting police to detain four suspected bootleggers linked to the supply chain.

According to Bhavnagar Collector Manish Kumar, the victims allegedly consumed liquor from duplicate bottles carrying the label of an Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brand.

Bhavnagar SP Nitesh Pandey said a group of people in Kharakdi village consumed liquor from a suspected duplicate IMFL bottle a few days ago, following which several of them developed health complications.

One of them, identified as Kharakdi resident Upendrasinh Gohil, died at Sir T Hospital in Bhavnagar. Several others were admitted to Sir T Hospital and other hospitals in the city. The other deceased has been identified as Kanaksinh.

According to the SP, medical examinations of the affected people indicated a common pattern, with most having consumed liquor from duplicate bottles before their health deteriorated.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the suspected spurious liquor bottles were supplied from Madhya Pradesh. Police are investigating where the bottles were sourced, how they were manufactured and who supplied them to Bhavnagar.

Based on information gathered from those undergoing treatment, police teams used technical surveillance and field intelligence to detain four suspected bootleggers from Vartej and other areas. They are allegedly linked to the supply chain of the duplicate IMFL bottles.

Police have seized several bottles carrying the same brand and are conducting further searches to identify and apprehend others allegedly involved in the supply of the spurious liquor.

A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has also joined the investigation to examine the liquor and establish the exact cause of the deaths and illnesses.

The SP appealed to anyone who may have consumed liquor from duplicate bottles to seek medical attention, even if they are not currently experiencing any adverse symptoms. DeshGujarat