Deaths due to ‘overdose’ of drugs: A harrowing picture of loss in Punjab’s hinterland Punjab recorded 266 deaths due to overdoses of narcotic and psychotropic substances from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2023. Written by Varinder Bhatia Follow Chandigarh | Updated: December 25, 2023 08:48 IST

 

Sunny’s mother Rekha says he had left home saying he will return soon, but never did. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh)

In a recent submission to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Director (Bureau of Investigation) of the state police department, LK Yadav, revealed alarming statistics regarding drug-related fatalities in Punjab. According to the report, Punjab recorded 266 deaths due to overdoses of narcotic and psychotropic substances from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2023. The breakdown indicated 36 deaths in 2020-21, 71 in 2021-22, and a staggering 159 in the most recent year, ending March 31, 2023.