Gujarat : Spurious Liquor Death Toll Rises to 9 in Bhavnagar, 21 Under Treatment

BHAVNAGAR: A deadly spurious liquor racket has pushed Bhavnagar into a deepening public health and law-and-order crisis, with nine people now reported dead and 21 undergoing treatment after allegedly consuming methanol-tainted fake IMFL.

The scale of the tragedy emerged as police intensified their investigation into an organised network allegedly involved in manufacturing and distributing counterfeit liquor across Bhavnagar and surrounding villages.

Among the latest developments, the body of Hitesh Parmar, a government school teacher in Songadh, was found in suspicious circumstances on the second floor of Gilbert Apartment near Gandhi Colony on the night of August 19. Police recovered a half-filled Royal Stag bottle from the kitchen of his house.

Another victim, Jayesh Jitendrabhai Bhatti, 35, from Kaliyabid, leaves behind an eight-year-old son and four-year-old daughter.

Police investigations have allegedly revealed that bootlegger Gautam Solanki brought a team from Madhya Pradesh to manufacture the counterfeit liquor. Methanol and other raw materials were reportedly sourced from Ahmedabad, while empty bottles, caps and Royal Stag labels were procured for the operation.

Police have registered an FIR against 21 people, including Solanki.

According to investigators, Narendra Singh Yadav alias Doctor, who was allegedly brought from Ujjain to prepare the liquor, made the methanol-rich mixture with associates Saras, Ganesh and Aman. Ironically, Yadav himself consumed the liquor and died during treatment after his health deteriorated.

In one of the most striking revelations, police said the group allegedly manufactured liquor in three stages. A first batch of 51 boxes was sold, while a second batch was reportedly destroyed after it turned out to be defective. A third batch of 25 boxes was allegedly prepared for retail distribution.

Meanwhile, hospitals are scrambling to treat the victims. At Sir T Hospital, four medical teams have been deployed around the clock. Kidney and liver specialists from Ahmedabad’s IKDRC have also been called in.

“In view of the increasing number of affected patients, four teams of doctors have been deployed for round-the-clock treatment,” said Dr Kairvi Desai, in-charge Medical Superintendent of Sir T Hospital.

The hospital has also initiated arrangements to procure Fomepizole injections from Mumbai, with 10 doses reportedly being ordered initially.

The administration has deployed around 100 police personnel from Botad and Amreli amid heightened tension.

Health experts said methanol can cause severe poisoning, affecting the eyes, brain and vital organs and potentially leading to death.

The Bhavnagar tragedy has once again raised serious questions over the illegal manufacture and distribution of spurious liquor and the need for stronger enforcement against bootlegging networks.