The death toll in the spurious liquor tragedy in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district has risen to nine, while three victims remain in critical condition.
One of the victims, Hardik Kilji, died on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, and out of 17 patients who are still undergoing treatment at the civil hospital and six other private facilities in the city, three remain in a critical condition, the district administration stated in an update.
Seventeen patients are undergoing treatment at the civil hospital and six private healthcare facilities, while 17 others have been discharged. Officials said the victims consumed illicit liquor containing toxic levels of methanol.
According to police, the victims consumed spurious liquor packed in bottles bearing the name of a popular Indian-made foreign liquor brand.
The liquor contained 38.59 per cent methanol and 0.94 per cent ethanol, a Forensic Science Laboratory report showed, said officials.
Police have arrested 13 of the 21 accused named in the case. The investigation has been handed over to the Gujarat Police’s State Monitoring Cell.
Gujarat is a 'dry' state where the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol is banned.
(With inputs from PTI)