Police in Pune district are investigating a suspected toxic liquor network after at least 18 people died within a 48-hour period [1], [5].
The tragedy highlights the persistent danger of illicit alcohol production in Maharashtra, where unregulated brewing often leads to mass poisoning through industrial contaminants.
Investigators are focusing on several locations within the region. In Pimpri-Chinchwad, specifically the neighborhoods of Phugewadi and Dapodi, 13 deaths were reported [2]. An additional five deaths occurred in Pune city, concentrated in Hadapsar and Kalepadal [3].
Authorities suspect the fatalities are linked to the consumption of liquor laced with methanol [4]. Methanol is a toxic alcohol that can cause permanent blindness or death if ingested. While some initial reports indicated more than 15 deaths [4], the latest figures from police investigations place the total at 18 [1].
The deaths occurred over a two-day window reported on May 29, 2024 [6]. Police are now working to identify the suppliers and distributors of the contaminated brew to prevent further casualties. The investigation aims to dismantle the network responsible for producing and selling the lethal substance across these residential areas.
Local officials have not yet named any suspects, but the scale of the deaths suggests a coordinated distribution network rather than a single isolated batch of liquor. The focus remains on the chemical analysis of the samples to confirm the presence of methanol as the primary cause of death [4].
“18 people died within a 48-hour period”
This incident underscores the systemic failure of liquor regulation in marginalized urban pockets of India. The use of methanol, often a byproduct of industrial processes, in illicit brews is a recurring public health crisis that typically targets low-income populations who cannot afford legal alcohol, turning a social habit into a lethal risk.
