Eight dead, 12 hospitalised after suspected illicit liquor poisoning in MP's Sagar

At least eight people have died and more than a dozen others have been hospitalised after consuming suspected illicit liquor in Baraj village in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district late Saturday night. The district administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

According to police, a group of villagers consumed liquor on Saturday night and soon began experiencing nausea and vomiting. They were rushed to a hospital, where five were declared dead on arrival. The toll has since risen to eight, with the Sagar Chief Medical and Health Officer, Dr Devesh Pateria, confirming that up to ten deaths have come to his notice.

Health teams have been deployed across three villages identified as hotspots. Doctors and nurses are conducting door-to-door screening to identify anyone who may have fallen ill after consuming liquor. Patients are being stabilised locally before being referred to higher medical centres. About 25 patients have so far been referred for advanced care.

Dr Pateria said the symptoms point to possible methyl alcohol poisoning, though authorities have not confirmed the cause. One patient arrived at the casualty ward gasping on Saturday evening and could not be revived. Medical teams worked through the night and continued screening on Sunday, with the number of affected people expected to change as more households are covered.

District magistrate Pratibha Pal said an investigation is underway at the Civil Hospital. She appealed to anyone who consumed liquor in the past 24 to 48 hours to get themselves examined, even if they are not showing symptoms.

An excise department team has seized liquor bottles from a local vend for forensic examination to determine if the liquor was spurious or contaminated. The collector has ordered a magisterial inquiry, and police, excise officials, and the district administration are investigating the source of the liquor.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has directed officials to take prompt and stringent action, stating that the government will not tolerate such incidents. The opposition Congress has attacked the state government, alleging that illicit liquor networks are operating unchecked and accusing the administration of being directly responsible for the deaths.