The number of fatalities from toxic alcohol consumption in northern Punjab, India, has increased to 27, with several more in critical condition after ingesting locally manufactured spurious liquor, officials confirmed on Tuesday, May 13.
Authorities have detained seven individuals on charges of distributing the tainted liquor to five villages located approximately 12 miles from Amritsar, northern Punjab, according to senior police officer Maninder Singh.
This incident prompted authorities to initiate a rigorous crackdown on the network of illegal liquor suppliers operating in the region.
Sakshi Sawhney, a senior government official in Amritsar, stated that medical teams have been dispatched to the affected villages to assess residents who may have consumed the contaminated alcohol. Healthcare personnel are conducting house-to-house visits to identify symptomatic individuals and transport them to hospitals promptly to avert further fatalities.
Updated reports indicate that nine individuals, including the supplier and alleged leader of the operation, have been detained. The local government has suspended four officers for negligence and started departmental investigations against those found negligent in their duties.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the victims consumed alcohol from a single source on Sunday evening, May 11, with initial deaths reported on Monday. The death toll has gradually increased as more individuals succumbed to the toxic effects.
A senior police officer reported that those detained had acquired methanol online, which they diluted and distributed to vendors, who then sold the poisoned drink in packets to unsuspecting buyers.
“The police have launched a crackdown to destroy the network of spurious liquor supplies in the area following the incident,” Singh said.
Deaths from consuming illegally produced, contaminated liquor remain a persistent issue across India, particularly in rural regions where economic hardship drives consumers to opt for cheaper alternatives despite significant health risks.
The deadly incident in Punjab follows a similar tragedy in the Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu, southern India, where at least 34 people died, and over 100 were hospitalized after consuming alcohol laced with toxic methanol.
In 2020, spurious liquor resulted in more than 120 deaths in Punjab, underscoring the ongoing challenge authorities face in curbing the illegal trade.
Bootleg liquor fatalities are often attributed to the addition of toxic substances like methanol, which producers use to boost alcohol content and potency while minimizing costs. The illicit liquor industry is highly lucrative because manufacturers evade taxes and sell their products at lower prices than regulated brands.
The issue of toxic liquor is described by experts as a complex socio-economic problem rooted in poverty and the demand for inexpensive alcohol. Many victims are day laborers and others with limited incomes who cannot afford licensed alcohol brands.
Two businessmen based in Delhi have also been arrested in connection with the Punjab incident, suspected of supplying methanol in bulk through online channels, which was then used in producing the lethal alcohol.
Family members of victims have been devastated by the losses. Local media have shown images of grieving relatives at hospitals and in villages as they receive news of loved ones who fell victim to the poisoned alcohol.
Similar incidents have occurred in other Indian states, including Bihar and Gujarat, where dozens have died from drinking tainted or illegally brewed alcohol in recent years.
Enforcement challenges are significant as the production and distribution networks for illicit alcohol often operate in remote areas with limited regulatory oversight. Local authorities frequently discover operations only after casualties begin to mount.
Health officials note that methanol poisoning can cause blindness, severe organ damage, and death even in relatively small quantities when consumed. Symptoms typically appear hours after ingestion, making rapid medical intervention critical for survival.
In an unrelated case highlighting the broader problem of illegal alcohol in India, authorities in 2024 uncovered a spurious liquor supply network involving ex-servicemen operating from Karnataka. The operation involved selling counterfeit liquor labeled as “military liquor.” Police arrested 14 suspects and seized over 2,400 bottles in connection with that case.
As medical teams continue their efforts in the affected Punjab villages, authorities are simultaneously working to cut the supply of illegal liquor while implementing longer-term interventions aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future.