(Online Desk)

College students falling a prey to liquor and drugs is the new phenomenon noticed i the coastal West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

Yes, this was evident from six students of colleges in Eluru died due to this addition during last six months.  

In one such case, four students of Ramachandra Engineering college were found dead in an irrigation tank of a guava farm in Bhogapuram.

Investigation reveals that the students had bunk their classes and went to the farm, without informing anyone, where they consumed alcohol.

Later, they jumped into the tank and drowned, not being able to pull themselves out.  

The city of Eluru, which is the headquarter of the West Godavari district, is turning out to be a breeding ground for drug smuggling and addiction.

Incidentally, Eluru is well-known as educational hub which is losing its name due to such illegal activities. The consumption of cannabis aka ganja is on the rise among the student community, especially belonging to engineering background.

Peddlers smuggle these drugs from Visakhapatnam. Some of the main dens for such activities are found in Vatluru and housing board colony. The addicts are often found smoking cannabis and drinking liquor at Chevuru in Vatluru village.

Many, who are caught guilty of the crime, said they used their pocket money, sent from their parents, to buy cannabis. When that money ran out, they started chain-snatching and drug smuggling.

This was revealed when the police recently arrested 12, where 11 were students, in a raid in Vatluru area. They had estimated that around 1,000 to 1,500 students were addicted to ganja.

In an another recent incident, two ITI students drowned in a fish tank under the influence of alcohol at Janampeta village in Pedavegi mandal.   

Eluru DSP K Eswara Rao commented on the issue: “A special team is formed to check drug addiction. They will tour college areas and take those students found guilty into custody.We will later call their parents and counsel them. We have issued a circular asking college administrations to conduct seminars and counsel their students.”

Paying the price: Six students have reportedly died by drowning while under the influence of alcohol. According to police, 1,000-1,500 students are addicted to cannabis. Some of the main dens for where addicts go are in Vatluru and housing board colony.