Two people die and 19 others are hospitalized after consuming suspected spurious liquor in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. Police and district officials say the victims drank alcohol sold in counterfeit bottles, reportedly bearing a foreign brand label. Health authorities report the hospitalized patients after the incident, while officials state investigations are ongoing.
The Hindu and Times of India both report that authorities detain people suspected of supplying illicit alcohol. The Hindu identifies that bootleggers from Vartej and other police station areas are among those detained, while Times of India says four suspected bootleggers are in custody. Both outlets also note that Gujarat has strict alcohol prohibition rules, with the state described as a “dry state,” which frames the broader enforcement context for such incidents.
Across the reports, details align on the number of deaths and hospitalizations, the suspected counterfeit branding of the liquor, and the detention of suspected bootleggers. Differences are mainly limited to how the detained suspects are described by local area and the precise number cited.
