Methanol-tainted liquor kills six and hospitalizes dozens in Gujarat gathering

In Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, six people lost their lives and more than two dozen required hospital treatment after ingesting methanol-laced liquor packaged in “Royal Stag” bottles. The tragedy surfaced when 25-year-old Upendrasinh Gohil died at Sir T Hospital; he had attended a celebration for his friend Vishwarajsinh Gohil’s police recruitment, where the group drank what they thought was legitimate Indian-made foreign liquor.

Other victims, including 40-year-old Kartik Makwana, 50-year-old Ghanshyamsinh Jadeja, and a man named Narendra Yadav linked to the production, also died, while survivors reported breathing difficulties, loss of sight and potential kidney complications. District collector Manish Kumar Bansal said officials learned of the incident at 6 pm on Tuesday and identified the affected individuals across the district. Investigators suspect a single bootlegger chain supplied the counterfeit drink, and the State Monitoring Cell, led by SP Mayur Chavda, has assumed control of the probe, detaining several suspects.