2 dead after drinking contaminated liquor in dry Gujarat, 19 in hospital

Two individuals have tragically passed away and 19 others have been hospitalized in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat after consuming what is believed to be contaminated liquor. The state of Gujarat has been a dry state since 1960, with the sale and consumption of liquor being strictly prohibited. The suspicious liquor is thought to have been smuggled in from neighboring Madhya Pradesh.

Bhavnagar Senior Superintendent of Police Nitesh Pandey confirmed that two individuals had lost their lives, and the remaining 19 were admitted to various hospitals. Pandey stated that they had recovered several bottles resembling Royal Stag, a popular brand, and had arrested four individuals suspected of bootlegging this liquor.

The deceased have been identified as Upendrasinh Gohil and Narendra Yadav, according to Bhavnagar Collector Manish Kumar. Another death has been reported, but the autopsy results are pending. The incident occurred in Kharakadi village, where a recently employed man had organized a celebratory party. The tragedy unfolded when those who consumed the tainted liquor fell ill.

The Gujarat government has instructed the State Monitoring Cell, a specialized agency responsible for enforcing prohibition, to investigate the incident.