The streets of Karnal turned into a sea of bicycles today as the district administration organized a high-impact “Drug-Free Haryana” cyclothon to mobilize the community against the rising threat of narcotics.
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A Grand Start: The event began at the crack of dawn, with participants as young as 10 and as old as 75 lining up with their cycles. The Karnal MP flagged off the rally, emphasizing that the fight against drugs is not just a police matter but a social responsibility. “When our youth choose pedals over pills, we secure the future of Haryana,” the MP stated during the inaugural address.
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Massive Turnout: While the administration expected around 3,000 people, the actual turnout crossed the 5,000 mark, forcing officials to extend the starting wave across 20 minutes to manage the crowd. Schools, NGOs, and local cycling clubs turned out in large numbers.
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The Message: Along the 10-km route, participants carried banners and chanted slogans like “Nasha Mukt Haryana, Khushal Haryana” (Drug-Free Haryana, Prosperous Haryana). Dedicated “Awareness Zones” were set up at major intersections where volunteers distributed literature on how to seek help for addiction.
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Safety & Support: The district police ensured a “Zero Traffic” corridor for the cyclists, while medical teams and water stations were stationed every 2 km. No untoward incidents were reported during the two-hour event.
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The Pledge: The event concluded with all participants taking a collective oath to never touch drugs and to report any illegal activity in their neighborhoods to the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB).
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Digital Campaign: Participants were encouraged to upload their “cyclothon selfies” on social media with the hashtag #DrugFreeHaryana, creating a digital wave of awareness that reached lakhs of people online.
