Punjab: 5 die of drug overdose in 3 days; state tops NCRB list

FEROZEPUR: The border district has been left shaken after four young men from Lakho Ke Behram village died of drug overdoses within two days, sparking anger and anguish across the region. With another death reported in Hoshiarpur on Monday, the toll has risen to five this week.

The latest NCRB report says Punjab topped the country in drug deaths in 2023, reporting 89 fatalities — down from 144 the previous year but still alarmingly high. Madhya Pradesh came second with 85, followed by Rajasthan (84).

In Ferozepur, Raman Singh, 26, died on Tuesday, followed by three more deaths on Wednesday morning. The victims were identified as Medu Singh, Rajat Singh, and Sandeep Singh. The tragedy has left four families devastated and the entire village, barely 10km from the Pakistan border, in mourning.

Raman’s father, Bachitar Singh, said his son had battled addiction for years. “We admitted him to rehab five times. But he relapsed”. Medu, 21, sold even household doors and windows to fund his habit before poverty drove away his wife and kids. Rajat’s father, Sukhdev Singh, wept: “My son was the backbone of our family. Drugs have snatched him away.” Gurjit Singh, Sandeep’s elder brother, alleged that drugs are delivered “right at the doorstep.”

Furious, villagers blocked Ferozepur-Fazilka highway with the bodies, accusing cops of failing to act despite a station nearby. SP Manjit Singh said govt has opened de-addiction centres and launched a mission against drugs. In Hoshiarpur, a 32-year-old addict, Vishal Aadia, was found dead on Monday. Police said the cause of death will be known after the postmortem.