Chloral Hydrate, a chemical compound banned in India from being manufactured as a drug in 1991, has been proliferating as a quick and cheap high in districts around Ahmedabad. Technically Chloral Hydrate is neither alcoholic nor narcotic. As per the 2017 list, it is among the 444 substances (with caveats) that have been banned in India for sale and manufacture under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
Notably, two deaths in Vatva, Ahmedabad, in 2018-19 are attributed to the substance.
The chemical is mixed in water or aerated drinks, to get a high mostly in Central Gujarat. The drug is also used by students. It is used to make a fake version of ‘toddy’, which is its street name.Police have been trying to bust an inter-state racket of suppliers who transport and supply this chemical in Anand, Nadiad, Mahisagar and surrounding districts of Ahmedabad.
On Sunday, officials of Anand police received a tip-off about a shipment of Chloral Hydrate being transported to Borsad taluka.
Cops intercepted a car and found 32.6 kg of Chloral Hydrate and arrested Kishan Bipin Vaghela of Balasinor in Mahisagar, and Shivakumar Bakhay Antulla, a resident of Ankleshwar in Bharuch.
The two were booked by Bhadran police under section 308 of the IPC for culpable homicide, a non-bailable offence, and other sections. the said sections were used as the substance does not fall under the ambit of the Liquor Prohibition Act or the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
About 200 grams of this powder can be turned into 4 to 5 litres of intoxicating drink. Peddlers on the streets sell minuscule packets that can be mixed with any aerated drink.
Chloral Hydrate is sold by suppliers for about Rs12,000 per kg which is sold to street peddlers for about Rs15,000 per kg. The liquid version of it is sold for Rs5,000 per litre. An overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, convulsions and in extreme cases cardiac arrhythmia and coma.
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