The death toll from a spurious liquor tragedy in the western state of Gujarat has risen to 13, Indian authorities said on Sunday.

According to Indian media reports on Friday, residents in several areas of Gujarat's Bhavnagar district had died after consuming illicit liquor. Tests on blood samples from the victims detected methanol, prompting police to launch an investigation and name 21 people as suspects.

Gujarat enforces strict prohibition laws that severely restrict the production, sale and consumption of alcohol, but fatal incidents involving illicit liquor have occurred periodically despite the ban.