{
  "id": 2295544,
  "title": "In ‘dry state’ Gujarat, a barcode warning after toxic liquor kills 7",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/in-dry-state-gujarat-a-barcode-warning-after-toxic-liquor-kills-7",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-21T03:58:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/in-dry-state-gujarat-a-barcode-warning-after-toxic-liquor-kills-7-10842758/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the state of Gujarat, which has been under prohibition since the 1960s, authorities in Bhavnagar have issued a warning to the public following the deaths of seven individuals due to contaminated liquor. The State Monitoring Cell discovered that all seven victims consumed bottles of a whisky brand with a specific barcode: 8901522000665. This barcode was found on IMFL – Indian-Made Foreign Liquor – bottles that were contaminated and seized by authorities. The public has been urged not to drink from bottles bearing this barcode. The investigation revealed that an ill-informed attempt to distill liquor resulted in the tragedy. One of those involved in the illicit liquor-making is among the victims; the victim's identity has not been disclosed. Forensic lab reports showed that the drink consumed by the victims contained a dangerously high level of methanol, a toxic substance not found in licensed alcoholic beverages. The victims have been identified, and 21 accused, including the alleged ringleader Gautam Solanki, have been named in the case.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}