Spurious liquor deaths in Bhavnagar, Gujarat: death toll rises to seven, 30 hospitalised

Spurious liquor deaths in Bhavnagar, Gujarat: death toll rises to seven, 30 hospitalised 12 bootleggers have been detained in connection with spurious liquor consumption in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, with an FIR registered against 21 persons, police remarked.

Key points

• Relatives of the victims of spurious liquor consumption, at the Sir Takhtasinh General Hospital in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, on August 19, 2026.
• While 30 persons are hospitalised, police remarked on Thursday (August 20, 2026), the death toll due to consumption of spurious liquor in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district has gone up to seven.
• So far, 12 bootleggers have been detained in this connection, with an FIR registered against 21 persons, Inspector General of Police, Bhavnagar Range, R.V.
• Teams of doctors from Sir T Hospital and Ahmedabad's kidney hospital IKDRC were additionally roped in for supervision at free treatment camps running at private hospitals.
• Seven persons have died after consuming spurious liquor, and 30 are undergoing treatment, Mr.

Relatives of the victims of spurious liquor consumption, at the Sir Takhtasinh General Hospital in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, on August 19, 2026. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement.

So far, 12 bootleggers have been detained in this connection, with an FIR registered against 21 persons, Inspector General of Police, Bhavnagar Range, R.V. Asari remarked.

Gujarat is a 'dry' State where the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol is banned.

Seven persons have died after consuming spurious liquor, and 30 are undergoing treatment, Mr. Asari remarked.

"A case of accidental death was registered when a person died after consuming toxic, chemical-laced liquor at Kharakadi village under the Vartej police station limits. An FIR was subsequently lodged, naming 21 individuals as accused, " he remarked.

In practice, the police are conducting the investigation, and a team of the State Monitoring Cell has been assigned to handle the case, the official remarked. "So far, 12 individuals have been rounded up, " he continued. According to police, the victims consumed spurious liquor packed in the duplicate bottle of a popular Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brand.

For context, the district administration received information around 6 p.m. On Tuesday (August 18, 2026) regarding a group of five friends falling ill after consuming illicit liquor during a party in Kharakadi village in Ghogha taluka of the district. Afterwards, it was identified out that individuals from other villages and areas within Bhavnagar city were additionally affected, Bhavnagar Collector Manish Kumar stated on Wednesday (August 19, 2026).

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Nitesh Pandey, a group of residents consumed liquor from a "duplicate" bottle of an IMFL brand at Kharakadi village a few days back, after which their health deteriorated.

After which their health deteriorated, the SP remarked on Wednesday (August 19, 2026), the examination of the victims has shown a common pattern that most of them consumed alcohol from the duplicate liquor bottles.

Preliminary investigation suggests that these bottles were supplied from Madhya Pradesh, and further investigation was underway into aspects like from where exactly they were brought, how they were produced, and who sent them to Bhavnagar, he remarked.

Plenty of bottles of the same brand have been seized from bootleggers, and efforts are underway to apprehend other bootleggers involved in the supply of spurious liquor, the official stated.

For now, spurious liquor deaths in Bhavnagar, Gujarat: death toll rises to seven, 30 remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.