An estimated 40,000 asthma patients took the fish medicine here Wednesday, contrary to the tall claims of the Bathini Goud family.

The estimates are based on the number of murrel fish supplied by the fisheries department and private sellers. At least 90,000 people had taken the medicine last year.

The Goud family, however, claims that half a million people took the medicine this year. They claimed the turnout last year was 700,000.

The family has been administering fish medicine to Asthma patients for the last 160 years.

The Jana Vignana Vedika, an NGO, had approached the court seeking a ban on the medicine. The Indian Medical Association had also claimed that the fish medicine contained steroids and heavy metals.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court, thereafter, had asked the Goud family to reveal the ingredients of the medicinal paste, and directed that 10 samples be sent to laboratories for tests.

The court had also asked the state government to run a publicity campaign to inform people that there was no scientific proof that the medicine cured asthma.

The court order came hours before the administration of fish medicine was to begin here.

In view of the controversy over the issue, chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy stayed away from the event, unlike his predecessor N. Chandrababu Naidu, who used to inaugurate it every year.