Shimla: Himachal Pradesh has registered 66 deaths due to drug overdose between Jan 1, 2023, and Jan 31, 2026, chief minister
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu informed the state legislative assembly on Tuesday.
While eight deaths were recorded in 2023, 31 were registered in 2024, and 27 in 2025, Sukhu said, adding that no drug overdose deaths were reported in January 2026.
In a written response to a question asked by BJP MLAs Jeet Ram Katwal and Prakash Rana, the CM provided details of enforcement actions taken across the state with regard to drug abuse.
Sukhu informed that a total of 6,246 FIRs had been registered under the NDPS Act during this period, from Jan 2023 to Jan 2026. The police have filed chargesheets in 5,684 cases, while 19 cases have been closed with cancellation reports, and 57 remain untraced. Currently, 486 cases are under investigation, he mentioned.
Court data shows that 108 cases have resulted in convictions, while 139 accused have been acquitted. A large number (5,437) of drug-related cases are still pending trial in courts, stated the CM.
Sukhu also mentioned that 5,298 accused individuals had been granted bail by courts over the last three years. He acknowledged growing concerns over the upward trend in the use of ‘chitta' (heroin) in the hill state.
The CM explained that bail in cases involving small quantities of heroin (up to 5 grams) was granted pursuant to the provisions under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), in compliance with the Supreme Court directives. However, in cases involving intermediate (5-250 grams) and commercial quantities (250 grams or more), bail is given by the courts only under special circumstances, he added.
‘Over-tourism' in Himachal
CM Sukhu on Tuesday acknowledged that "over-tourism" in Himachal Pradesh was straining the state's carrying capacity, causing heavy traffic during peak seasons.
Responding to a question by Banjar MLA Surender Shourie, the CM assured that highways and roads would be repaired before the upcoming tourist season, along with adequate police deployment to manage traffic.
He also stated that no scientific study on carrying capacity had been conducted for tourist destinations in the Banjar constituency, and there were currently no plans to undertake one.
Advt spending slashed
The incumbent Congress govt has spent just half of what the previous BJP govt did on advertisements. Responding to a query by Dharamshala MLA Sudhir Sharma, the CM, on the ninth day of the ongoing budget session, stated that Rs 14.73 crore was spent over three years through the information and public relations department, compared to Rs 28 crore by the previous BJP govt.
Overall, Rs 22.87 crore has been spent on advertisements across departments, including the information and public relations department, besides corporations and boards in the three years up to Oct 31, 2025, Sukhu informed the House.
205 thalassaemia patients
Himachal Pradesh has 205 registered thalassaemia patients and 158 haemophilia patients, Himachal Pradesh health minister Colonel Dhani Ram Shandil (retd) informed the House on Tuesday.
In a written response to a question by Sulah MLA Vipin Singh Parmar, the health minister stated that all chief medical officers provide free medicines to these patients, while blood banks ensure free availability of blood to them.
Under the ‘Sahara Scheme', thalassaemia patients from families below the poverty line or those earning less than Rs 4 lakh annually receive Rs 3,000 per month in financial assistance through direct benefit transfer, the minister added.
Religious tourism
Himachal is the land of ‘Shakti Peethas', and to promote religious tourism, the state govt is preparing a master plan for Shri Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur district, CM Sukhu said in response to a question by BJP MLA Randhir Sharma.
The CM also informed the House that temples in Himachal Pradesh would be beautified, and a budget of Rs 25 crore had been allocated for Chintpurni and Jwalamukhi temples.
A comprehensive master plan for the ‘Shakti Peethas' will be prepared within a year, including lifts for the elderly and a comfortable space for shopkeepers, he added.
Scrap policy soon
The state govt will come up with a policy for the proper disposal of scrap across the state in the next cabinet meeting, stated CM Sukhu.
Replying to a question asked by Shahpur MLA Kewal Singh Pathania, Sukhu stated that rules would be framed for all departments so that the scrap, whether lying in police stations, hospitals, schools or any other department, could be disposed of scientifically.
Jal Jeevan Mission
Deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Tuesday informed the House that various drinking water projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission in Himachal Pradesh have been affected due to the Centre's failure to release Rs 1,227 crore over the past year.
Responding to queries by MLAs Balbir Verma and Daleep Thakur, Agnihotri said under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the central govt exercises strict control over the funds, and these funds could not be diverted.
Rs 495 cr pending power dues
A total of Rs 495.76 crore remains unpaid to the state electricity board by various departments, boards, corporations, and institutions, stated CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
In a written reply to BJP MLA Bikram Singh, Sukhu stated that the Jal Shakti Vibhag was the largest defaulter, with dues of Rs 455.91 crore.
Of the total outstanding amount, Rs 86.03 crore has been pending for over three years. To recover these dues, the state electricity board has been issuing notices to the departments concerned. Additionally, electricity meters in several departments are being converted to prepaid mode in a phased manner, he added.
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