Enlarge image
Ahmedabad, India: A man is taken to hospital after drinking illegal alcohol
Photo: Sam Panthaky / AFP
At least 42 people have died from drinking adulterated alcohol in India.
Almost 100 others had to be taken to the hospital, the police said.
"Investigations revealed that the victims consumed industrial methanol, which led to their deaths," said Gujarat State Interior Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
Dozens of people in several villages in Gujarat had fallen ill in the past few days after drinking the adulterated alcohol.
According to the police, 31 people died in the Botad district and eleven more in the Ahmedabad district.
Two of the 97 people hospitalized so far are in critical condition, Sanghavi said.
Methanol is highly toxic and can cause blindness, liver damage, and death.
The substance is formed when the distilling of the alcohol is not done correctly.
Hundreds of people die every year from illegally produced alcohol
After the incident, the police took action against illegal distilleries throughout the state of Gujarat and, according to their own statements, arrested several people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state is one of several Indian states that ban the sale and consumption of alcohol.
Hundreds of people die every year in India after drinking illegally produced alcohol.
Moonshine is very popular in the country because it's significantly cheaper than imported alcohol or established Indian brands.
Last year, 98 people died in northern Punjab state after drinking adulterated alcohol.
Another case in the country caused a stir in 2019: more than 140 tea plantation workers died after drinking adulterated liquor.
Nearly 300 more people are being treated for poisoning in hospital.
According to doctors, those affected initially suffered from severe nausea, chest pain and shortness of breath.
bam/AFP
