Growing trend of public nuisance at midnight birthday celebrations on city roads

To control rising midnight public nuisance, Hyderabad police are cracking down on late-night birthday celebrations on roads. Youngsters are warned or counseled for blocking traffic, bursting crackers, or drinking in public. Repeat offenders face legal action. Drives will continue regularly

Hyderabad: Amid rising instances of public nuisance during midnight birthday celebrations, the city police have launched special late-night checking drives across the city.

These operations target groups of youngsters gathering at public places to cut cakes, burst firecrackers, and consume alcohol in the open, especially on roads and flyovers.

The special drives, which are being carried out in areas such as Uppal, Nagole, LB Nagar, Chaitanyapuri, and Dilsukhnagar, aim to ensure public safety and prevent disruptions to law and order. Teams of police personnel are deployed during late-night hours to identify and stop such gatherings.

According to police officials, many of these celebrations are organised with scant regard for traffic or public decorum. In several instances, groups of youngsters have blocked roads and flyovers, posing risks to themselves and others. Groups have been found indulging in loud celebrations, blocking movement of vehicles, and even engaging in public drinking, which is an offence under the city’s law.

Videos of such midnight revelries have also been surfacing on social media, prompting a swift response from authorities.

“Youngsters are being picked up and brought to the police station, where they are given counseling. They are let off with a strict warning. If caught a second time, legal action will be initiated and cases will be booked,” said a senior police officer from LB Nagar zone.

The police have also warned against the use of firecrackers in public places, citing safety hazards and noise disturbances. Public drinking, another commonly reported issue during these celebrations, is being treated seriously, and bottles of alcohol found during the checks are being seized.

Officials say these measures are not intended to curb personal celebrations but to ensure that they do not disrupt public peace and safety.

“We welcome responsible celebrations, but not at the cost of public inconvenience or safety. They must be conducted responsibly and within private spaces. Roads are not meant for parties,” said A Surya Nayak, Inspector, Nagole.

Any petty case booked against anyone could become a problem to secure a suitable job or passport, or visa in the future, he added. The police plan to continue these drives regularly across various hotspots in the city with increased patrolling and surveillance at known hotspots during late-night hours.