In 2024, at least 106 people in Punjab died from suspected drug overdoses. This number is much higher than the deaths reported in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report.
106 drug overdose deaths in 2024 in Punjab, NCRB report
The report, released by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), shows that Himachal Pradesh had 31 overdose deaths in 2024. Haryana reported three deaths, while Chandigarh recorded seven. Nationally, Punjab had the second highest number of overdose cases, following Tamil Nadu, where 313 people died from drug overdose.
After Punjab, the states with the most deaths were Madhya Pradesh (90), Rajasthan (69), and Mizoram (65). Overall, there were 978 drug-related deaths in the country in 2024, an increase from 654 in 2023.
NDPS cases: PB not among top three
Punjab reported 29 NDPS Act cases per lakh population, making it second only to Kerala, which had 75.5 cases per lakh. Compared to Punjab, the neighboring states of Haryana (10.8), Himachal Pradesh (22.8), and Chandigarh (7.2) had lower crime rates for drug offenses. Punjab’s drug offense crime rate is significantly higher than the national average of 7.8.
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