The Bathina brothers, who administer the wonder drug free of cost, have decided to shift the venue to the sprawling grounds as their ancestral house is located at the congested Doodbowli area of the Old City.

Last year, the medicine was distributed at the Nizam college grounds due to the communal tension and consequent curfew in the Old City.

Revenue Minister T Devender Goud today held a meeting with senior city police and other civic officials to make necessary arrangements for the annual event which draws thousands of patients from distant places in the country. Additional city police commissioner K Aravinda Rao, east zone DCP A R Anuradha, MCH commissioner PK Mohanty, officials from the fisheries, metro water supply, roads and buildings and AP transport attended the meeting.

An estimated two lakh people are expected to throng the city to take themedicine.

The Bathina brothers, however, stated that they would prepare the medicine in their ancestral house itself. Later, it would be brought to the exhibition grounds and distributed through a group of volunteers. At least 25 sub-distribution centres would be opened in the premises to avoid possible stampede. A separate enclosure for the VIP patients was also being planned.

Last year, an elderly person died and several others sustained injuries when there was a stampede at the Nizam college grounds.

The Bathina family had been administering the fish medicine for over a hundred years and the ingredients of the medicine is still a family secret. A couple of years ago, the elders passed on the ``formula'' of the medicine to the juniors, thus ensuring the continuation of the family tradition.

Of the five brothers, two elders - Sivaram Goud and Somalingam Goud passed away last year, while Visvanath Goud, Harnath Goud and Umamaheswar Goud are administering the drug along with 12 otherjuniors.