Bhavnagar Hooch Tragedy: Eight Dead, 61 Affected, 13 Arrested in Methanol Case

At least 61 people have been affected and eight have died after consuming spurious liquor containing toxic methanol in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district, officials said on Friday. Ten patients remain in critical condition as authorities intensify their probe into the hooch tragedy.

According to the district administration, 25 people are still undergoing treatment, with 15 in stable condition. Ten patients are in intensive care units, including one receiving ventilator support. Another 10 have been discharged, while 18 people who consumed the liquor sought medical advice but left hospitals after examination.

Police have arrested 13 of the 21 accused named in the FIR registered at Vartej police station. The accused have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Gujarat Prohibition Act, including charges related to culpable homicide, adulteration and poisoning. A local court has remanded them to 10 days in police custody.

The investigation has been transferred to the State Monitoring Cell (SMC), a specialised Gujarat Police unit dealing with illicit liquor and gambling operations. Officials said teams have been sent to Madhya Pradesh and Delhi to trace the suspected supply chain for raw materials.

The illicit liquor was allegedly prepared at the residence of Vartej resident Gautam Solanki, with assistance from associates linked to Ujjain. The liquor was reportedly packed in bottles bearing the name of a popular Indian-made foreign liquor brand before being supplied to bootleggers.

A Forensic Science Laboratory report found that the seized liquor contained 38.59 per cent methanol and 0.94 per cent ethanol. The presence of methanol was also detected in the blood sample of the first reported victim, Upendrasinh Gohil.

The case came to light after three friends consumed the liquor on August 16 and fell seriously ill, with one subsequently dying. Police suspect the accused manufactured the toxic liquor for financial gain and are also investigating the source of bottle-sealing equipment and alleged attempts to destroy evidence.