Thousands take fish prasadam

Hyderabad: Thousands of asthma patients took 'fish prasadam' at Exhibition Grounds at Nampally here on Saturday on the first day of distribution of fish medicine.

The distribution of traditional annual fish medicine, which claims to cure Asthma and other respiratory Illnesses, is being distributed free of cost by Bathini Goud family for more than 175 years.

Patients from several States queued at Exhibition Grounds to take the 'prasadam' on Saturday which happened to be the day of 'Mrigasira Karti.'

"Though many questions were raised against the medicine, we believe firmly that this prasadam works and cures asthma and other respiratory illness. My mother Mayishi was suffering from asthma four years ago.

We are coming here for two years for the fish medicine, my mother has some relief. This is the fourth year and we are thankful for the service being provided in Telangana State government." said Kiranjeet from Gujarat.

Around 36 counters were set up and 1,60,000 fingerlings were supplied by the Fisheries Department for the 24-hour fish medicine distribution that will continue till Sunday 6 pm.

Thousands of people continue to throng the venue in the hope of finding some relief to their nagging respiratory problems and the patients faced hardships due to lack of drinking water facilities though 3,50,000 water packets were distributed at the venue.

Speaking on the arrangements made by the State government, M N Timiwal, a visitor from Chandrapur, Maharashtra, said reaching the stalls where water was kept was becoming difficult.

He said he was 50 plus and was not able to jostle with the crowd to get a packet of water. Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) is operating over 100 special buses from airport, railway station and MGBS and JBS to ferry patients to the venue.

Hyderabad Metro Rail is also providing additional trips for easy transportation. A total of 1,500 police personnel were deployed for the security.

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Electricity, Transport and other departments made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the event.

Like in the past, the State government made elaborate arrangements for the annual event. Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries T Srinivas Yadav along with Telangana Legislative Council Chairman Swamy Goud inaugurated the distribution of a fish prasadam'

For vegetarians, the medicine is being given with jaggery. It is said that the secret formula for the herbal medicine was given to the ancestors of Bathini family in 1845 by a saint after taking an oath from him that it would be administered free of cost.