‘No cake-cutting around Hussain Sagar’: Behind Hyderabad police’s diktat, a tragedy

Hussain Sagar Lake, a popular destination in Hyderabad, has recently become the site of a tragic accident. Every year, families gather around the lake for midnight birthday celebrations, cutting cakes around its shimmering waters. However, on Friday, a six-year-old girl and her relative were tragically killed after being run over by a truck while crossing the road near the lake.

In response, Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar banned birthday celebrations in the vicinity of Hussain Sagar Lake, urging the public to avoid impulsive and dangerous activities. The commissioner expressed concern over the growing trend of birthday celebrations around the lake, stating that such behavior often leads to irreparable loss for families.

Police have been alarmed by the haphazard parking of vehicles, teenagers posing with cakes on busy roads, and dangerous stunts performed for social media reels. In one incident, a six-year-old girl was rescued by an autorickshaw driver after her mother allegedly threw her into the lake due to severe financial stress. The lake, built in 1562, has seen a decline in maintenance over the years, leading to pollution and overcrowding.