Mysuru: Marking International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, District Department of Health and Family Welfare, National Mental Health Programme (NMPH) and CPC Polytechnic together had organised an awareness rally in city yesterday.

The rally, which was flagged off by Lashkar Police Inspector M. Muniyappa at the Polytechnic premises in N.R. Mohalla here, passed through Ashoka Road, Fountain Circle and Ambedkar Circle, before returning to the starting point.

Students of various colleges participated in the rally holding placards with messages on ills of drug abuse.

Leaflets stating that over 10,000 cases of drug abuse and alcohol addiction have been reported during 2018-19 in the district and occurrence of road accidents in inebriated condition were common, were distributed among people.

District Surgeon Dr. B. Basavaraj, CPC Polytechnic Principal H.V. Shivaswamy, NMHP District Co-ordinator Dr. V. Santosh and others were present.