Punjab drug overdose: 14 deaths in 14 days

At least 14 alleged drug overdose deaths have been reported in Punjab over the past two weeks, bringing to focus again how the authorities concerned have been struggling to root out the menace in the border state where the problem is often attributed to smuggling from Pakistan. Nine of these deaths have taken place over the past week alone, according to information. The data is based mainly on the statements of family members of the deceased and the local police. Three deaths have been reported in Gurdaspur, two each in Abohar, Moga, Amritsar and Ferozepur and one each in Muktsar, Faridkot and Ludhiana. The high incidence of fatalities is reminiscent of a June 2018 drug overdose crisis in Punjab when 23 youths died, with some found having syringes still in their arms.
 
The police have registered cases against alleged drug suppliers in nearly half of the recent deaths.