Hyderabad witnessed a major crackdown on drunk driving during the New Year celebrations, with police across the city booking a total of 2,731 individuals for violating traffic rules. Despite repeated warnings, many drivers ignored the regulations, putting lives at risk. Cases have been registered against all those caught. In the Hyderabad Commissionerate, 1,198 people were apprehended, while 928 were caught in the Cyberabad Commissionerate and 605 in the Malkajgiri Commissionerate. These special checks continued from New Year’s Eve night into the early hours of Thursday, underscoring the dangers of driving under the influence. Authorities warned that such enforcement drives will continue to ensure public safety.

Incident-free celebrations despite high violations

Despite the high number of drunk driving cases, Hyderabad saw incident-free New Year celebrations in most areas, thanks to extensive traffic monitoring and citizen cooperation. Malkajgiri Commissionerate reported no major road accidents, highlighting the effectiveness of traffic enforcement and road safety measures. Malkajgiri Police also conducted intensive checks, with 230 drivers recording blood alcohol levels over 100 mg/100 ml and 8 above 300 mg/100 ml, mostly in LB Nagar, Vanasthali Puram, Uppal, and Kushaiguda.

In a separate health-related incident in Bhawaninagar, 16 individuals fell ill after consuming alcohol and biryani, with one person, Pandu (53), succumbing to the illness at Narayana Mallareddy Hospital. Police urged citizens to remain responsible, avoid risky behavior, and cooperate with authorities to ensure a safe start to 2026.