Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar has warned residents against holding midnight birthday parties and cake-cutting ceremonies on Tank Bund and other major roads after a road accident killed a six-year-old girl and a family member who had gathered for a birthday celebration.
In an appeal issued on Friday, October 9, the Commissioner urged youngsters and parents to avoid celebrating on busy roads, near lakes and in parks. He cautioned that late-night gatherings in locations exposed to moving traffic could turn into tragedies because of speeding and reckless driving.
According to the police, the family had gathered around 2 a.m. near Tank Bund to celebrate the six-year-old girl’s birthday when the accident occurred. Police personnel reached the spot after receiving information and shifted the injured people to hospital, but the child and another family member later died.
Following the incident, Sajjanar inspected the accident site with senior police officials and reviewed measures intended to prevent similar incidents. The police also undertook an assessment in coordination with various government departments to identify road-safety improvements at the location.
The warning comes despite existing restrictions on birthday celebrations and cake-cutting activities along the Tank Bund promenade. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation issued directions against such gatherings in November 2023, along with a ban on littering. Police personnel have also been asking visitors to leave the area when they gather for celebrations, but some groups reportedly return later at night.
The enforcement problem reflects the difficulty of managing a public promenade that also functions as a major traffic corridor. When pedestrian activity, parked or stopped vehicles and moving traffic overlap at late hours, the absence of regular congestion can increase the speed of passing motorists. Families gathering with young children near the carriageway are therefore exposed to risks that are not limited to the celebration itself.
Sajjanar appealed to residents to celebrate birthdays at home or at other safe venues instead of using busy roads and public locations late at night. He also asked parents to discourage youngsters from gathering at Tank Bund, near lakes or at other public places for such events and to cooperate with the police in preventing avoidable accidents.
The police and government departments are expected to continue reviewing preventive measures at the accident site, while the existing prohibition on birthday gatherings and cake-cutting at Tank Bund remains in force.
