An Excise and Prohibition Department official stands outside the Emergency Ward of Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), where several individuals have been admitted after consuming adulterated toddy, in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: RAMAKRISHNA G
The death toll in the suspected adulterated toddy case has risen to five, while the number of people hospitalised has also risen to 44 on Thursday.
Of the total, 31 patients are receiving treatment at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), while 13 others are being treated at Gandhi Hospital. “More people with similar symptoms were brought to the hospital late on Wednesday. We have asked locals to inform us immediately if anyone else begins showing signs,” said Medchal district excise officer Shaik Fayazuddeen.
According to a NIMS spokesperson, of the 31 patients admitted, four are undergoing dialysis, while the remaining 27 are said to be stable and under observation.
An official involved in the post-mortem process at Gandhi Hospital confirmed that examinations were conducted on two bodies on Wednesday, two more on Thursday, while one body is still awaiting analysis. “The symptoms strongly suggest the presence of chemical adulterants in the toddy — primarily methanol or chloral hydrate. Alprazolam may have been mixed in as well,” he said. The toxicology report is awaited.
The patients were rushed to hospital on Tuesday night after they began exhibiting symptoms including diarrhoea, low blood pressure, dizziness and fatigue.
Inside NIMS, the corridors near the intensive care wing were lined with stretchers. Attendants sat nearby, observing their loved ones and calling out to nurses. In one room, Rupa, a schoolteacher, helped her mother sit upright. Her voice was calm but heavy with exhaustion. “We came here last night. My mother had severe diarrhoea and her blood pressure dropped suddenly. We first went to an RMP doctor in our area who gave her medicine for loose motions, but it didn’t help. Her condition worsened through the night,” Rupa said.
Holding her mother’s hand, she added, “We then took her to Ramdevrao Hospital. They referred us here. She’s under observation now and seems better than last night.”
A few steps away, another woman stood beside a stretcher where her unconscious mother-in-law lay wrapped in a blanket, her body still. “She began shivering uncontrollably this morning. We rushed to Ramdevrao Hospital, but they told us she needed to be shifted here,” she said, glancing nervously at the patient. “It hasn’t stopped. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Meanwhile, Joint Commissioner (Enforcement) S.Y. Qureshi said the symptoms did not appear to point to serious chemical adulteration but were more likely related to gastrointestinal complications. “We suspect the use of contaminated water to dilute the toddy may be the cause. Many didn’t rehydrate in time, which affected their kidneys,” he explained. However, he did not rule out pharmaceutical or chemical adulterants. “Samples of the seized toddy from the three key depots have been sent for chemical analysis. We will know the exact cause once the results are out,” he said.
The Telangana Human Rights Commission has taken cognisance of the incident and has directed the Revenue Department to submit a detailed report by August 20.
Health Minister Damodar Raja Narsimha visited the patients at NIMS on Thursday. Speaking to the media, he said all the patients were in stable condition and expected to be discharged within four to five days.
Published – July 10, 2025 08:50 pm is
