70-year-old dies of sunstroke in queue for application of Telangana public schemes

Hyderabad: Mad rush was witnessed at various public distribution shops, municipal wards and mandal revenue offices for submission of applications for Food Security Cards and other public schemes in Hyderabad and across Telangana on Tuesday.

The rush was such that an elderly applicant, who was in the queue at a PDS outlet in Hyderabad died of sunstroke. He was identified as Mohammed Azam Khan, 70. “He was applying for old-age pension in Saidabad mandal around noon, when he fainted and died,” said a bystander.

To ease the submission process, the administration has directed the officials concerned in mandal and municipal offices to open additional counters to facilitate the public.

The last dates for submission of applications have been extended from October 15 to 20. On Tuesday alone in Hyderabad district over 1.03 lakh applications were received for various categories, including Food Security Cards, old age and disabled pension, nativity, caste, income, among others.