'Nasha mukt' Punjab? Open drug abuse in Ludhiana’s busiest stretch exposes reality

Vijay can barely stand. His frail body sways as he attempts to cross a narrow lane near the DIG office at the old Lakkar Bridge, one of the busiest areas of Ludhiana. Each step looks like it might be his last before he collapses. Passersby glance at him, some mutter “nashedi”, then move on. No one stops.

Just a few moments later, the young man, appearing to be in his early twenties, makes his way towards a huge garbage dump beneath the overbridge, unfazed by the overpowering stench. He sits down and, in a semi-conscious state, begins eating dal and rice.

This is where he lives. This is where he gets high. This is where he survives.

Identifying himself only as Vijay, he manages to communicate through gestures that he came to Ludhiana from Bihar three years ago.  A short distance away, the reality unravels.

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Led by a safai sewak, this correspondent found four more men, all appearing to be between 25 and 30 years of age, in a similar state. All were heavily inebriated and difficult to communicate with. Two of them lay asleep on the ground, while two others sat staring blankly into the distance, completely unaware that they were surrounded by garbage and filth.

Lying scattered around were empty tubes and plastic remnants. “These are used for sniffing.  It’s one of the cheapest forms of intoxication, substances meant for fixing cycle punctures. They inhale it to get high, ” said a passserby

The worker points towards a small, dingy enclosure under the bridge which is filled with garbage, yet functioning as a shelter.

“Some good Samaritans provide langar daily. Around 150 people eat here, including many addicts,” the worker says. “But food alone doesn’t change their condition.”

The scene raises uncomfortable questions about the much-publicised campaigns like “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh” and the vision of a “Nasha Mukt Punjab”. Without relying on reports or data, the ground reality in Ludhiana tells its own story.

When contacted, Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma said teams regularly monitor such areas. “Since this location has been highlighted, we will send teams to check on both addicts and suppliers,” he said.