At least 13 people have died in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad after consuming suspected toxic illicit liquor, triggering a police investigation.
May 29, 2026: A devastating toxic liquor tragedy has struck Maharashtra’s Pune region, where suspected contaminated alcohol has claimed at least 13 lives across multiple areas, including Pimpri-Chinchwad and parts of Pune city. Authorities confirmed fatalities in several locations, with eight deaths reported in Pimpri-Chinchwad, three in Kale Padel, and two in Hadapsar.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the illicit liquor was allegedly manufactured in Urli Kanchan village near Pune, where it is suspected that industrial chemicals were mixed into the alcohol. The contaminated supply was then distributed to nearby areas, after which victims began suffering severe health complications, leading to multiple deaths within a short span of time.
Police have arrested the main accused, identified as Yogesh Wankhede, and recovered containers believed to have been used in preparing and storing the toxic liquor. Authorities are now tracing the supply network and identifying others involved in the illegal operation. Officials have launched a full-scale investigation as concerns grow over enforcement failures and the rising threat of illicit liquor networks in the region.