Bhavnagar, Gujarat: The death toll from a methanol-tainted batch of illicit liquor brewed in Bhavnagar rose to 13 after two more men died late on Saturday and early Sunday, district officials said. Three other patients remain hospitalised, officials added.
Police detentions and investigation
Bhavnagar District Collector Manish Kumar Bansal said Mukesh Manilal Damor, 36, succumbed late on Saturday, and Bhargav Upadhyay, 42, was declared dead at 10:25 am on Sunday. The collector said two of the remaining patients were being treated at Sir Takhtasinhji General Hospital and a third at Pulse Hospital; their conditions were reported as stable.
The State Monitoring Cell leading the probe has so far arrested 14 of the 21 accused named in the FIR registered at Vartej police station. A local court remanded the detained persons in police custody until 1 September.
Inspector General Gagandeep Gambhir of the State Monitoring Cell reached Bhavnagar on Saturday as part of the ongoing investigation, officials reported.
Alleged origin and composition of the batch
Preliminary laboratory analysis indicated the lethal preparation contained a high concentration of methanol. Media reports cited a concentration of 38.59% methanol in the seized sample; investigators are treating the case as a mass-poisoning linked to illicit brewing.
Authorities said the principal brewer believed to have prepared this batch was named Narendrasinh Yadav alias Doctor, originally from Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Yadav is among those who died after consuming the drink, according to official accounts.
"We have detained key suspects and are pursuing others believed to have assisted in production and distribution, including persons from Madhya Pradesh," a senior official said, according to reports.
Inter-state angle and further arrests likely
Investigators have said Yadav was not the only person who had travelled from Madhya Pradesh to Bhavnagar to work on the batch. The State Monitoring Cell is reported to be seeking transit warrants to bring additional accused from Madhya Pradesh to Gujarat. Officials indicated more arrests were expected by Sunday evening or Monday morning.
- Deaths so far: 13
- People detained: 14 of 21 named in FIR
- Investigating agency: State Monitoring Cell
- Key inter-state link: Individuals from Madhya Pradesh reportedly involved
Victim list and timeline
Officials released a sequence of fatalities that occurred between 18 and 23 August. The names and dates provided by authorities are summarised in the table below.
| Date | Victim (age) |
|---|---|
| 18 Aug | Upendrasinh Chandrasinh Gohil (25); Narendrasinh Yadav alias Doctor (47, Indore, MP); Kartik Ashwin Makwana (40) |
| 19 Aug | Kanaksinh Hanubha Gohil (37); Ghanshyamsinh Jaypalsinh Jadeja (49); Hitesh Dileep Parmar (42); Jayesh Jitu Bhatti (35) |
| 20 Aug | Sudhir Kalu Rawal (40) |
| 22 Aug | Hardik Haresh Kilji (36); Avinash Kanti Parmar (54); Sanjay Lakshman Dodiya (Surat) |
| 23 Aug | Mukesh Manilal Damor (36); Bhargav Upadhyay (42) |
Local impact and enforcement context
The incident underscores persistent public-health risks from illicitly produced alcohol in Gujarat, which maintains prohibition on sale and consumption of country liquor. Despite the ban, illicit brewing and trafficking continue to surface periodically, producing mass-poisoning events that strain local hospitals and law-enforcement resources.
Health authorities and police have appealed to residents to report suspected illegal brewing or sale of liquor. The State Monitoring Cell's involvement signals an intensified investigative push to dismantle the production and distribution network, and to pursue suspects across state borders.
Next steps in probe
Forensic analysis of seized samples, custody of detained suspects and transit procedures for accused believed to be in Madhya Pradesh are expected to dominate the next phase of the inquiry. Court remands and follow-up arrests are likely as investigators seek to establish the production chain, distribution routes and culpability.
Residents in affected communities are being monitored and advised to seek immediate medical help if they experience symptoms consistent with methanol poisoning, including visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting or breathlessness.
Further official updates are awaited as the State Monitoring Cell continues its probe in Bhavnagar.
