Nine Die After Consuming Suspected Spurious Liquor in Nagaland

September 13, 2026

Kohima: At least nine people, including three members of a family, have died at the Civil Hospital in Nagaland’s Tuensang district over the past three days after allegedly consuming suspected spurious liquor, officials said on Sunday.

Following the deaths, the Nagaland Police issued a red alert and urged people to refrain from consuming liquor obtained from unknown, unauthorised or suspected sources.

Police officials said the victims reportedly complained of breathlessness after consuming the suspected adulterated liquor and subsequently died. However, the circumstances surrounding the deaths have not yet been officially established.

Nagaland Director General of Police Rupin Sharma said the victims reportedly succumbed to what is suspected to be spurious liquor, while stressing that the exact cause remains under investigation.

Nine Deaths Reported in Tuensang

According to an official police release, a total of nine deaths were reported in Tuensang Town and Chendang Saddle on September 10 and 11.

Police said the deaths have a direct or indirect circumstantial linkage with alcohol consumption based on information currently available, and the matter is being investigated accordingly.

One person, reportedly a family member of the liquor seller, also died by hanging. Police said the circumstances surrounding that death are being investigated separately as a suspected case of suicide.

Tuensang Police received information on Saturday about a pattern of deaths involving people admitted to Tuensang Civil Hospital.

Preliminary enquiries found that in most cases, the deceased had reportedly consumed liquor before developing symptoms including blurred vision, severe headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

Spurious Liquor Suspected, Cause Yet to Be Confirmed

Police said consumption of spurious or adulterated liquor is a possible cause of the deaths, but it cannot be scientifically and conclusively established at this stage.

Scientific and forensic procedures will be undertaken as part of the investigation to determine the exact cause of death and establish the nature of the liquor consumed.

Post-mortem examinations were not conducted in most cases because the mortal remains had already been taken for funerals before police became aware of the pattern of deaths.

Therefore, the present assessment is based on available medical records, preliminary enquiries and other information collected during the investigation.

Police Seize Around 470 Liquor Bottles and Beer Cans

Tuensang Police are conducting a detailed investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths, identify the source and nature of the liquor consumed and determine whether any person or persons may be responsible.

Police also conducted search and raid operations across Tuensang Town and the Chendang Saddle area to identify and seize suspected unauthorised, spurious or adulterated liquor.

During the operations, approximately 470 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer cans were seized from different locations, officials said.

Among those who died were reportedly three members of a family from whose premises some of the deceased persons had allegedly purchased liquor.

Further scientific and medical examinations are being carried out in coordination with the concerned authorities to establish the exact cause of the deaths and determine the nature of the liquor.

Meanwhile, police and authorities have launched widespread information and public awareness efforts, urging people to avoid liquor obtained from unknown, unauthorised or suspected adulterated sources.