Sagar (Madhya Pradesh): Nine people died and several others fell ill after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district, officials said on Sunday.

The deaths were reported in two villages in Banda tehsil, around 30 km from Sagar district headquarters. Police said the nine deceased had consumed the suspected spurious liquor.

Two other deaths reported around the same time could not be linked to the suspected hooch tragedy so far, officials said. A local BJP MLA, however, put the toll at 11, saying the deaths were linked to spurious liquor.
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Several taken ill

Sagar Superintendent of Police Anurag Sujania said nine people had died after consuming the liquor but could not provide the exact number of people who had fallen ill.

Sagar Collector Pratibha Pal said preliminary interactions with local residents indicated that the deaths occurred after consumption of illegal spurious liquor. Screening of residents in the affected villages has begun.

Four to five people who complained of symptoms including headache and vomiting were shifted from Banda Civil Hospital to Bundelkhand Medical College and Hospital for further treatment.
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Investigation underway

The first death was reported in the early hours of Sunday. Preliminary autopsy reports were awaited, the collector said.

Authorities are investigating the deaths and screening people who may have consumed the suspected liquor. The exact cause of death will be established after medical and post-mortem reports.

The incident comes weeks after 13 people died in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district after allegedly consuming spurious liquor. Gujarat is a dry state where the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol are prohibited.