'Udta Punjab?': Blinkit delivery boy's 'intoxicated' 2-hr-long stand outside building raises questions on drug abuse in Chandigarh

Punjab has frequently made headlines over concerns of drug abuse, a reality that was also portrayed in the film Udta Punjab, which highlighted the widespread impact of substance use, particularly among the youth.

For the second consecutive year, the state has recorded the highest number of drug overdose deaths in the country. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Punjab reported 89 drug-related deaths in 2023, the highest nationwide.

Amid this backdrop, a recent video has gone viral showing a delivery partner standing by a roadside behind a parked car in a visibly inebriated state. Wearing a Blinkit delivery backpack, the man was seen holding a rolled 'bidi' in his mouth and reportedly remained in the same spot for hours.

Circulating widely on X, the footage has drawn attention and raised questions about alleged drug abuse in Chandigarh. The posts mentioned that the man stood there for nearly two hours, appearing intoxicated. It even shared that eyewitnesses, who tried approaching him, described him as unresponsive.

The incident reportedly took place in Sector 33 of Chandigarh and was captured on Tuesday.

According to the Station House Officer (SHO), Inspector Satinder, no formal complaint was filed by local residents, but a police patrol team noticed the man during routine rounds in the area. He was subsequently taken for medical evaluation.

“His medical examination was conducted, but it did not confirm consumption of alcohol or any substance,” the SHO told news agency PTI, adding that the man was later produced before a magistrate and released on bail.

As the incident surfaced online, several X users speculated that the delivery worker may have been under the influence of drugs, with some suggesting fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid, though no official confirmation supports these claims. Many raised questions on the drug abuse scenario in the region.

"It's common in Punjab, he is under drug influence," read a comment. "Fentanyl has reached Punjab," wrote another user. Netizens even captioned the post as "Udta Punjab", referencing to the movie that highlighted the concerning state of Punjab.