13 people reportedly died of suspected hooch in a village in Gujarat

Wth four more deaths, the toll in the suspected hooch tragedy at Vareli village in the district on Saturday rose to 13 even as the Gujarat government formed a committee to probe the incident.

With four more deaths, the toll in the suspected hooch tragedy at Vareli village in the district on Saturday rose to 13 even as the Gujarat government formed a committee to probe the incident.

Police said a massive search operation was launched in the area to trace the dens selling hooch. (Representative image)

At least six more persons of Vareli village in Palsana tehsil have been admitted to hospitals, said district development officer and collector (in-charge) K Rajesh, adding that a team of medical officers was camping at the village and had set up a control room to provide medical assistance to the villagers.

“The death toll has climbed to 13. Six persons are undergoing treatment, four at a government hospital and two at a private hospital. The exact cause of the deaths is yet to be ascertained, though methanol poisoning is not ruled out,” he said.

The Forensic Science Laboratory at Gandhinagar was examining the viscera and other samples of the deceased and the cause of the deaths would be known after receiving its report, said Rajesh.

Police said a massive search operation was launched in the area to trace the dens selling hooch. At least six police inspectors, posted in the Surat rural area, were transferred in the aftermath of the incident, they added.

Minister of state for home Pradipsinh Jadeja said the state government had formed a three-member committee to conduct a probe into the incident. It will be headed by ADGP (police reforms) VM Pargi.

Officials did not rule out the possibility of an outbreak of some viral disease as a cause of the deaths. Rajesh said samples had also been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune to explore the possibility.