In Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, 11 people have died so far after consuming poisonous illicit liquor. However, the Collector has confirmed 10 deaths. Meanwhile, around 35 people were brought to the hospital. Some of them remain in a critical condition. Seriously ill patients have been referred to Bundelkhand Medical College and Sagar District Hospital. The death toll is feared to rise further.
The government has taken action following the deaths of 11 people due to consuming poisonous liquor in Sagar. In connection with the matter, Sagar Assistant Excise Commissioner Kirti Dubey, District Excise Officer Dilip Khandate, and Excise Sub-Inspector posted in Banda Roshni Urete have been suspended.
Testing of liquor consumers
According to Collector Pratibha Pal, the case is concentrated in the Nauroja and Ghughra Khurd villages under the Banda police station area. The first report was received at around 4:30 am on Saturday morning. Screening is being conducted in the affected villages. People who consumed the liquor are being examined. Those showing symptoms are being sent to Bundelkhand Medical College.
Collector states: Suspected deaths due to methyl alcohol consumption
The Collector mentioned that the initial findings from two to three post-mortems conducted so far point to the consumption of methyl alcohol. Meanwhile, SP Anurag Sujaniya stated that preliminary investigations reveal the liquor was supplied from Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh. A few individuals have been taken into custody and are being interrogated. The network in Lalitpur is also being investigated.
According to doctors, the patients brought to the hospital had turned blue. They were experiencing stiffness. The administration has reserved separate beds for suspected patients at BMC. Post-mortems and other legal procedures are underway.
Around 35 people were brought to the hospital. The condition of some remains critical.
People who have consumed alcohol are being brought to the hospital for a check-up.
Six liquor shops sealed, sampling ordered
Following the deaths, the administration has stepped up action. The Sagar Divisional Commissioner, Inspector General, Collector and SP visited the affected villages and met the families of the victims.
Six liquor shops in the area have been sealed as a precaution, and officials have been ordered to collect samples. Strict action has also been ordered against those involved in the illegal liquor trade.
Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda said anyone found responsible for the incident would not be spared. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav has also directed officials to take strict action.
Meanwhile, Congress state president Jitu Patwari questioned the government over the incident in a post on X.
Collector urges people to get screened
Sagar Collector Pratibha Pal has urged anyone who has consumed any kind of liquor in the past 24 to 48 hours, or is experiencing symptoms associated with toxic liquor consumption, to undergo immediate screening.
She said people can contact local medical teams or go directly to a civil hospital for examination.
Around 35 people were brought to the hospital. The condition of some remains critical.
Collector Pratibha Pal reached the hospital as soon as she received the information.
Collector: People fell ill after drinking toxic liquor
The Collector said medical teams were continuously monitoring all the cases and that necessary medical and administrative action was being taken according to the situation.
The deceased are reportedly from four villages. The administration is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the role of liquor consumption.
Victim’s relative: ‘He died within half an hour’
Ramkumar Dangi, a resident of Bamurabeda village, said his cousin was also among those who died.
“People are dying after drinking liquor. Four people have died in our village,” he said.
He claimed that one person died on the first day and three on the second day over the past two days. He said the link to the liquor became apparent because three people had consumed it together.
“They suddenly started feeling cold and their bodies became cold. They died within half an hour,” Dangi said.
Senior officials visit Naoraj and Ghughra Khurd
Following the deaths, the Sagar Divisional Commissioner, IG, Collector and SP visited Naoraj and Ghughra Khurd villages.
The officials met the affected families and reviewed arrangements for treating patients admitted to hospital.
They directed officials to take strict legal action against those involved in the illegal liquor trade. Six shops in the area were sealed as a precaution, and immediate sampling was ordered.
The administration has appealed to people who have consumed liquor and are experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, headache or fever to visit the nearest health centre immediately for a medical examination.
Deputy CM: Those responsible will not be spared
Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda expressed grief over the deaths in the Banda-Shahgarh area of Sagar district in a post on X.
He said he had sought a detailed report from the District Collector and Superintendent of Police. The Excise Commissioner is also travelling to the spot, he said.
Jitu Patwari questions alleged liquor mafia network
Congress state president Jitu Patwari alleged that the government had previously been questioned over alleged official protection for the toxic liquor trade in Sagar district.
He questioned Chief Minister Mohan Yadav over who was protecting the illegal liquor trade, why the alleged liquor mafia was operating without fear, and why the government acted only after people had died.
Patwari demanded an immediate high-level investigation into the incident.
He also called for strict action against those responsible and officials allegedly providing them protection, immediate financial assistance to the victims’ families, and decisive action against the illegal liquor network across the area.
Umang Singhar demands high-level probe
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar also questioned the government after 11 people were reportedly killed and more than 25 hospitalised following the consumption of toxic and illegal liquor.
He called for an immediate high-level investigation and warned that the death toll could rise.
Singhar said reports of people turning blue after drinking liquor and dying within a short time were extremely alarming. He alleged that the incident raised serious questions about the illegal liquor trade and administrative lapses.
He also referred to a previous case involving counterfeit liquor in Ujjain and questioned when the illegal liquor trade in Madhya Pradesh would be stopped and who was allegedly protecting it.
Opposition seeks strict action against those responsible
Singhar urged Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to immediately send a high-level investigation team to Sagar.
He said urgent steps were needed to prevent further deaths, given the possibility of the toll rising. He also demanded immediate financial assistance and all possible support for the victims’ families.
Former Congress MLA claims thousands consumed liquor
Former Congress MLA from Banda Tarvar Singh Lodhi demanded that a case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (murder) be registered against those responsible.
He also demanded compensation of ₹1 crore for each family that lost a member to the toxic liquor.
Lodhi claimed that thousands of people had consumed the liquor over the previous three to four days.
