Fish prasadam at Nampally Grounds: Man suffers heart stroke in queue, passes away

Hyderabad: A 75-year-old man died of a suspected heart stroke while waiting in the queue at the annual fish prasadam distribution event organised by the Bathini family at Nampally Exhibition Grounds here on Sunday

The deceased, identified as Satyanarayana from Medak district, had come to receive the fish-based herbal remedy that draws thousands of people from across the country, especially those seeking relief from respiratory ailments.

According to eyewitnesses and officials at the site, Satyanarayana collapsed suddenly while standing in the queue. On-site medical staff rushed to assist him and performed CPR to revive him. However, despite their efforts, he was declared dead at the spot. His body was later shifted to the Osmania General Hospital mortuary for further examination.

The incident cast a brief shadow over the otherwise large-scale event, which is known to draw massive crowds every year. Authorities have urged the elderly and those with health conditions to take necessary precautions while attending the event.

Earlier in the day, coinciding with the auspicious Mrigasira Karte, the distribution of the annual Fish Prasadam event organised by the Bathini family was formally inaugurated by Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, along with Member of Parliament Anil Kumar.

Extensive arrangements for devotees

To accommodate the massive turnout, the number of queue lines has been increased from 32 to 42. The Fisheries Department has provided over 1.5 lakh murrel fish, used in the preparation of the herbal prasadam.

Multiple government departments have coordinated efforts to ensure smooth operations. The GHMC arranged mobile toilets and improved sanitation across the grounds, while the Hyderabad Water Board installed numerous drinking water counters. The Revenue Department has set up a help desk, and several NGOs are distributing free food and water to attendees and their families.

TSRTC is running 140 special buses from 14 city depots, including major hubs like Secunderabad, MGBS, JBS, ECIL, Shamshabad Airport, Dilsukhnagar, Uppal and Rajendranagar, to facilitate easy transportation to the venue.

Security has also been stepped up, with police deploying personnel and installing 70 CCTV cameras to monitor crowd movement and ensure safety.