Hyderabad: Thousands of asthma patients from Telangana and beyond packed into Nampally Exhibition Grounds on Sunday, drawn by the promise of relief at the annual fish prasadam distribution – a ritual that’s become a lifeline for many. Fisheries Minister Ponnam Prabhakar kicked off the event, taking the first dose of prasadam himself before distributing it to attendees.
The centuries-old tradition, celebrated on Mrigasira Karthi, is carried on by the Bathini family, who have been serving their herbal fish concoction to patients for generations. Even as questions linger over its medical claims, the event continues to draw huge crowds year after year.
To handle the rush, officials set up 42 separate queue lines and deployed more than 140 special RTC buses to ferry patients from major railway stations and bus stops. The Fisheries Department stocked a lakh fish to keep the prasadam flowing through the night and into Monday morning. By Sunday evening, over 70,000 patients had received their doses.
But the day’s proceedings turned somber when a 75-year-old man, Satyanarayana from Medak district, collapsed from a suspected heart attack while waiting in line. Despite CPR attempts, he couldn’t be revived. His body was taken to the Osmania Hospital mortuary. Police and volunteers scrambled to manage the crowd and keep the distribution on track.
Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya also stopped by to witness the ritual. Minister Prabhakar praised the Bathini brothers for their decades of service, calling on the central government to officially honor them. “They’ve treated lakhs of patients over the years. The Centre should recognize their contribution,” he said.
Inside the grounds, officials set up a 24-hour control room to coordinate efforts and maintain safety. Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand reviewed the arrangements on Sunday night, overseeing the deployment of extra security at the distribution counters.
Even as the distribution stretched into Monday, health officials urged patients to follow the queues and stay hydrated. Despite the ongoing debate about the therapy, faith in the centuries-old practice remains strong, with thousands lining up each year in search of relief.
Sri. C.V. Anand, IPS, DG & Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City Visited the Exhibition Grounds in Nampally, where the traditional Fish ‘prasadam’ is being distributed and Reviewed security arrangements. About 50,000 tokens were issued and around 1.5 lakh people visited by… pic.twitter.com/i1eH0vjjzq
— CP Hyderabad City Police (@CPHydCity) June 8, 2025
