One person died and at least 20 others were injured in a stampede, during the distribution of the fish medicine held at Katedan Sports Complex in Rajendranagar, on the city's outskirts, on Friday morning.
According to police, the stampede took place when hundreds of asthma patients rushed towards the medicine distribution counters after the gates were opened in the morning. The victim has been identified as Gorak Patil from Maharashtra, who succumbed to his injuries at Osmania General Hospital.
All the 20 injured have been shifted to various hospitals, and their condition is stated to be out of danger. The doctors said that people suffered minor injuries.
All the sports complex gates were opened simultaneously, and this led to the stampede.
The injured alleged that the government had miserably failed to make proper arrangements at the new venue, located about 10km from the Exhibition Grounds, where the Bathini family has been administering the fish medicine for years.
As part of the administration of the medicine, patients are made to gulp down a live murrel fish with a yellow herbal paste in its mouth. The medication is believed to provide relief from asthama if taken for 3 consecutive years.
Rangareddy district collector Seshadri claimed that all measures possible were taken for the smooth distribution of the medicine, and said that the stampede took place since a large number of people turned up for the medicine.
Government chief secretary Pankaj Dwivedi said that the situation was under control, but that the last-minute change of venue threw arrangements out of gear and caused severe inconvenience to patients coming from various parts of the country.
Members of the Bathini family have been administering the medicine, whose formula is eheavily guarded, free of cost for last 163 years. The family administers the medicine on the first day of the "mrigasira karte", which heralds the onset of the monsoon. (INN)