Eight die, 12 hospitalised after consuming illicit liquor in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar

Eight individuals lost their lives and over twelve others were hospitalized after allegedly consuming illicit liquor in Baraj village of Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district late Saturday night. This incident has led the district administration to order a magisterial inquiry. According to police, a group of people from the village consumed the liquor on Saturday night and started experiencing nausea and vomiting shortly after. They were rushed to the hospital, where five individuals were declared dead.

Dr. Devesh Pateria, the Sagar Chief Medical and Health Officer, reported that between eight and ten deaths have been confirmed so far. Medical teams are currently stationed in three villages, identified as hotspots, where they conduct door-to-door screening and identify potentially affected individuals. Patients requiring treatment are being stabilized locally before being referred to higher medical centers.

Until now, about 25 patients have been referred to these centers, with some requiring further treatment at higher facilities even after being stabilized at the local hospital.

The health department has deployed teams of doctors and nurses to conduct screenings in the affected villages. Symptoms among the patients have raised concerns about potential alcohol poisoning, though authorities have not confirmed this yet. The possibility of methyl alcohol poisoning is being considered, but definitive diagnosis has not been made at this stage. Authorities are continuously monitoring the situation and expect to release the identities of the deceased after verification.