HYDERABAD: In the backdrop of a Telangana HC order and police also deciding to crack the whip, the turnout of New Year revellers on the roads and at the pubs and bars was much less when compared to the last year. Except for one fatality in a road accident, police officials said there were no road mishaps relating to New Year revelry.
In press notes issued by Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda police, the total number of motorists who were caught riding under the influence of alcohol were1,814, including a few minors. Under Chikkadpally police station limits, a vegetable vendor P Nagireddy (60) died when he was walking on the road after a car hit him. P Srivatsava (21), who was at the wheel, hit Nagireddy allegedly in a drunken condition. Both the accused and the victim were heading towards Musheerabad from Chikkadpally. The accident took place at 5.30 am when the enforcement drive was already wound up by police.
During the enforcement drive taken up by Cyberabad police, seven motorists were found with a blood alcohol count (BAC) of more than 500 mg/100 ml against the permitted 30 mg per 100 ml.
As expected, the maximum number of drunken drivers were caught during the inspection by cops at Gachibowli, Madhapur, Kukatpally, Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Begumpet, Neredmet, Uppal and LB Nagar police station limits.
All the three commissioners personally supervised some check points. Senior officials of three police commissionerates said that there was not a single road accident in the city — no fatal cases between 10 am on Thursday and 4 am on Friday — during when they took up the enforcement drive. Necklace Road was out of bounds for the commuters.
“The New Year-eve was like any other ordinary day for us as we did only 50% business. Cops were very strict in terms of conducting parties and also carried out extensive drink and drive checks. We were informed that if anyone is caught drinking and driving, bar owners will be held liable,” said Narsing Rao, owner of a private club.
Techies in the IT corridor were conspicuous by their silent celebrations. “Due to the pandemic, we restricted ourselves to a house party with families and friends,” said Vinay Kumar, an IT employee.