The death toll in the spurious liquor tragedy of Botad and Dhandhuka talukas climbed to 46 as eight more succumbed at Bhavnagar’s Sir T Hospital and one in Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
There were no new admissions of affected patients. Botad villages account for maximum deaths with 32 people dying after consuming spurious liquor, which was essentially 99% methanol, sold in pouches. A total of 97 people are still admitted to various hospitals, of which two are said to be serious, junior home minister Harsh Sanghavi said. Sanghavi said of the 38 accused, 15 have been arrested. Meanwhile, at least 14 victims reportedly fled from Bhavnagar’s Sir T Hospital. After knowing about the missing patients, the hospital administration informed the police about the missing patients. A total of 95 hooch victims were brought to the Sir T hospital. Of them, 55 are still under treatment. At Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, the number of patients increased to 41 from 17 and three are on ventilators. Twenty required dialysis to reduce the concentration of methanol in their bloodstream.
JM Brahmbhatt, the hospital’s medical superintendent, said, “We have shared the list of these patients with the police. “Many VIPs came to visit the hospital. The patients may have taken advantage of the crowd. ” However, Bhavnagar range IG, Ashok Yadav said, “The patients did not flee the hospital but left only after recovery.” Meanwhile, investigation revealed that the prime accused Jayesh Khavadiya, had started selling stolen methanol from the factory in which he worked as a supervisor, since February, in small quantities. Khavadiya was working with Amos Corporation, a chemical factory, in Devraj industrial estate near Ahmedabad for the last four years. Sources said he had started supplying stolen methanol through his cousin brother and co-accused Sanjay Kumarkhaniya. Sanjay, however, told Khavadiya that the earnings through small quantities were insignificant and they should target selling methanol in bulk.
