Hyderabad: Coronavirus lockdown and the non-availability of liquor have started showing its effects. The mental health hospital at Erragadda in Hyderabad seems to have a certain increase in its visitor population.
As far as hospital superintendent Dr Uma Shankar is concerned, a staggering 100 people with withdrawal symptoms visited the outpatient ward on Monday.
Addicted people along with alcohol consumption issues were brought to the hospital by their family members.
The superintendent said many of them were treated as outpatients and a few were admitted for constant observation.
According to the doctors, there would be four to five alcoholics among an average 30 outpatients on any normal day. However, the number suddenly increased manifold times since Saturday.
One person, O Srinu, from Jeedimetla Industrial area in Hyderabad went on searching for toddy for two days at places far away from his home, before committing suicide.
In Nizamabad town, Bhushan of Mudiraj colony and Shakuntala of Sai Nagar colony died on Saturday last.
A fake order issuing that liquor shops will remain open till 1 pm from March 29 onwards had created a huge commotion. The authorities not only denied issuing any such order but also lodged a complaint with the cybercrime police. The case as of now is under investigation.
