HYDERABAD: The New Year celebrations passed off peacefully in Hyderabad as Special Forces were deployed at various locations to avert untoward incidents. There were no fatal accidents during the celebrations, but, despite heavy police deployment on the roads, more than 1,000 cases were booked against persons for drunk and drive across Hyderabad and Cyberabad areas between 11 pm on December 31 and 3 am on January 1.

Hyderabad and Cyberabad police took precautions to avoid incidents by deploying additional forces from various wings of the police. Teams started checking vehicles from 11 pm and it went on till around 3 am on Friday. Traffic police of the two city commissioners have registered 1,073 cases of drunken driving.

Hyderabad saw an increase with 156 more cases registered compared to 2014, while Cyberabad saw a slight increase of around 30 cases. Only 887 cases of drunken driving were registered in the city during the corresponding period the previous year.

Hyderabad police have registered 557 cases while their Cyberabad counterparts registered 516 cases against citizens driving under the influence of alcohol. Among the 1,073 offenders, most of them were between 18 and 35 years.

Police have seized a larger number of two-wheelers and cars in Cyberabad & Hyderabad limits. Police have seized 49 two wheelers and 8 Cars from the possession of persons who were found in the drunken state. A constable was also caught during the drive.

While, at least, 3 people were killed in separate road accidents, including one related to New Year revelry in the city.

At 4.45 am on Friday, an Armoor (Nizamabad)-bound TSRTC bus from MGBS hit a bike at Telugu Talli flyover X Roads near the Secretariat. Bike rider Sai Ram, 20, died on the spot due to multiple injuries, whiles his friend Ramesh, who was pillion riding, suffered injuries. “The incident happened when the victims were travelling from Liberty junction to Ameerpet. The bus, coming from Lakdikapul to Tank Bund, hit them near Telugu Talli flyover X roads. After partying at their room in Ameerpet, the friends went out for a joyride and the accident occurred,” the Saifabad SI said.

Two other persons lost their lives in two road accidents at Masab Tank and BDL Bhanoor, but police said their deaths were not related to New Year revelry.

Despite a series of awareness drives and campaigns, initiated by the Hyderabad and Cyberabad traffic police, to curb drunk driving, it showed no sign of abating.