Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Conflicting Death Tolls Reported in Sagar Spurious Liquor Tragedy
People in two villages in Madhya Pradesh may have become sick after drinking illegal liquor.
This kind of unsafe liquor is called spurious liquor.
The first death was reported early on Sunday.
Different reports gave different death tolls, including six, nine and 10.
A local lawmaker said the number could be 11, but officials had not confirmed that figure.
Several sick people were taken to a government hospital.
They reportedly had symptoms such as headache, vomiting and fever.
Officials were screening villagers, and autopsy results were still pending.
Officials initially reported six deaths after alleged consumption of spurious liquor in Sagar district, while later reports cited nine and 10 deaths.
Banda BJP MLA Virendra Lodhi said 11 people had died, but this figure was not confirmed by the district collector.
The liquor was allegedly consumed in two villages of Banda tehsil, about 30 km from Sagar district headquarters.
Reports differed on hospitalised people, ranging from three to four or five, while the MLA said about 25 were moved for advanced care.
Officials began screening residents and said preliminary autopsy reports were still unavailable; reported symptoms included headache, vomiting and fever.
- Who
- Residents of two villages in Banda tehsil; officials and local BJP MLA Virendra Lodhi gave differing casualty figures.
- What
- People allegedly consumed spurious liquor, after which several died and others became ill.
- When
- The first death was reported in the early hours of Sunday; one PTI report was dated September 6.
- Where
- Two villages in Banda tehsil, Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh, about 30 km from the district headquarters.
- Why
- Local interactions led officials to suspect illegal spurious liquor, although preliminary autopsy reports had not yet been received.
District Officials’ Account
Alternative Reported Figures
Death toll
District Officials’ Account
Sagar Collector Pratibha Pal initially reported six deaths, while later PTI-based reports cited nine and 10.
Alternative Reported Figures
Banda BJP MLA Virendra Lodhi said 11 people had died, a figure not confirmed by the collector in the reports.
Number hospitalised
District Officials’ Account
Officials reported that three people were sent to Bundelkhand Medical College and Hospital in one account, and four to five in another; one report said those sent were not seriously ill.
Alternative Reported Figures
Lodhi said about 25 people had been moved from Banda Civil Hospital to other hospitals for advanced healthcare.
Cause confirmation
District Officials’ Account
The collector said interactions with local residents pointed to illegal spurious liquor as the cause and that screening was underway.
Alternative Reported Figures
The cause remained subject to confirmation because preliminary autopsy reports were still unavailable.
- Reported death tolls
- Reports cited six, nine and 10 deaths; BJP MLA Virendra Lodhi said 11 had died.
- Reported illnesses
- One account said four to five people were ill; another said three were sent to hospital, while the MLA cited about 25 people moved for advanced care.
- Location
- Two villages in Banda tehsil, Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh.
- Distance
- The villages are about 30 km from Sagar district headquarters.
- Hospital
- Government-run Bundelkhand Medical College and Hospital.
- Symptoms
- Reported symptoms included headache, vomiting and fever.
- Official response
- Screening began in the two villages, and symptomatic people were shifted for treatment.
- Autopsy status
- Preliminary autopsy reports had not yet been received.
