Four people have died and 18 others have been hospitalised — eight of them in critical condition — after consuming spurious liquor illegally transported from Madhya Pradesh and sold in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, police confirmed on Wednesday, 19 August. The victims had consumed counterfeit alcohol passed off under the label of a popular Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brand. Gujarat is a prohibition state, where the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol are banned.

The Deaths and Those Hospitalised

The first fatality was reported on Tuesday evening, followed by a second death later that night, with two more deaths confirmed on Wednesday. The deceased — Kartik Makwana, 40, Upendra Gohil, 25, and Ghanshyamsinh Jadeja, 50 — have been confirmed as victims of spurious liquor consumption. The post-mortem and toxicology reports of the fourth victim, Narendra Yadav, are still awaited. All four were residents of Bhavnagar district.

Of the 18 people currently admitted across five hospitals — including Sir Takhtasinhji General Hospital and four private facilities — two are in critical condition, four are in intensive care, two are on ventilator support, and 10 are stable. Senior government doctors have been deployed to private hospitals to supervise treatment, and a nephrology team from the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC), Ahmedabad, was being dispatched to Bhavnagar for specialist support.

How the Incident Came to Light

The district administration received information around 6 pm on Tuesday that four people had fallen ill after consuming illicit liquor at a gathering in Kharkadi village, Ghogha taluka, on 16 August. Officials said at least 22 people in total had been affected. This comes amid recurring incidents of hooch tragedies in dry states, where prohibition drives demand into unregulated, often dangerous supply chains.

Police Response and Investigation

Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik said, 'As of now, four people have died in the incident. Necessary instructions have been given to all police units across the state to carry out intensive checks.'

Bhavnagar Police detained four suspected bootleggers on Tuesday night in connection with the illegal transportation of the liquor from Madhya Pradesh and its subsequent sale in the district. Superintendent of Police Nitesh Pandey said 16 police teams had been formed to arrest the accused and map the distribution network. 'When the incident came to our attention, we formed 16 police teams and began the hunt to apprehend the accused bootleggers and to find out the extent of the distribution of the particular liquor consignment,' Pandey told reporters. Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams have joined the probe, and samples of the suspected liquor have been sent for testing.

Statewide Crackdown Underway

Ahmedabad Rural Police intensified checking operations after the suspected liquor route was believed to have passed through the district. Around 800 personnel conducted operations from Tuesday night until 6 am on Wednesday, resulting in 177 liquor-related cases being registered. The operation is being expanded to approximately 500 villages, with police teams directed to engage residents and village representatives to trace the movement, storage, and sale of the consignment. Sarpanches have been specifically asked to report any relevant information.

Ahmedabad Rural Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Jat said, 'We have carried out checking at various locations across the district from the night until 6 a.m. Discussions with village sarpanches in Ahmedabad Rural are continuing. Anyone having information regarding the movement or storage of the liquor should inform the police.'

Police have issued a specific public warning against consuming liquor sold under the brand name 'Royal Stag' and urged anyone who has purchased or consumed such liquor to contact authorities immediately. With the investigation expanding and multiple agencies now involved, authorities are racing to contain the fallout before the contaminated consignment spreads further.