Teen dies, two hospitalised in Hyderabad after injecting drug Tapentadol
Hyderabad: A 17-year-old student died and two others were hospitalised after allegedly injecting a powdered form of the prescription drug Tapentadol Hydrochloride in Balapur, under the Rachakonda Commissionerate. The incident, which occurred on April 17, 2025, has raised serious concerns over the illegal use and sale of scheduled drugs among youth.
According to officials, the deceased, identified as an Intermediate first-year student and resident of Sultanpur Township, Balapur, along with two others and they are a welding worker from Hafeez Baba Nagar, and Md. Shabaz (22), a Zomato delivery agent from Golden Apartments, Balapur, consumed the drug by dissolving the tablets in saline water and injecting the solution. The injection was administered at the residence of welding worker in Shaheen Nagar between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. on April 17.
All three victims experienced dizziness shortly after and returned home. The next day, the Intermediate first-year student was admitted to Asra Hospital in Mirchowk in a critical condition. He was later shifted to Osmania General Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment on April 19 at 8:00 p.m. The other two victims remain hospitalised in semi-conscious condition at Asra and Owaisi Hospitals.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the tablets were procured from Sayeed Sahil (21), a resident of Bismillah Colony, Shaheen Nagar, who was reportedly addicted to Tapentadol and sold the tablets to the victims. Sahil was arrested by a joint team of Balapur Police and Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGANB). During questioning, Sahil confessed to regularly purchasing the tablets without prescription from Srinivas Medical Store in Shamshabad, owned by Siroomani Jagannathan Praveen (54).
Authorities raided the medical store and seized Tapentadol tablets matching the batch numbers found at the scene of the incident. CCTV footage and transaction records confirmed repeated illegal sales to Sahil, who allegedly bought the tablets at ₹45 each and sold them at ₹150.
Further investigation revealed that the victims were introduced to the drug by other local individuals identified as Mohd Ayan (20), Junaid Khan (25), and a 16-year-old student, all residents of Shaheen Nagar.
Tapentadol, a painkiller with high abuse potential, was added to Schedule H1 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules in November 2021. Although not yet listed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, its misuse is a punishable offence.
A case has been registered at Balapur Police Station under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Appeals to Parents, Medical Stores, and the Public
Authorities have urged parents, schools, and colleges to be vigilant and monitor children’s behaviour for signs of drug use. TGANB is offering counselling and de-addiction support for affected youth and encourages families to seek help at the earliest.
Medical store owners have been warned against dispensing prescription drugs without valid documentation. Selling scheduled drugs without a prescription is a criminal offence and will invite strict action.
The public is requested to report any drug-related activities or suspicions to TGANB through the following channels: Toll-Free Number: 1908; Email: tsnabho-hyd@tspolice.gov.in
All reports will be treated confidentially. Informants providing credible leads will be suitably rewarded.
Hyderabad: A 17-year-old student died and two others were hospitalised after injecting Tapentadol, a prescription-only painkiller, in Balapur. The drug was illegally obtained from a local peddler, who in turn sourced it from a medical store in Shamshabad. Authorities say the… pic.twitter.com/MbICjqOYAX
— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) April 22, 2025
