Adulterated milk tragedy in Andhra Pradesh: death toll hits five
Adulterated milk tragedy in Andhra Pradesh: death toll hits five
Five deaths linked to adulterated milk in Andhra Pradesh, with a vendor arrested as labs test samples and authorities promise aid for families.
The death toll in the adulterated milk case in Andhra Pradesh has risen to five. A six-year-old boy, Bathina Manohar, died while undergoing treatment at King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. The other deceased have been identified as Seshagiri Rao, Radhakrishna Murthy, T. Ramani, and Krishna Veni. In the latest health bulletin, officials said seven of the 15 patients being treated across Rajamahendravaram and Visakhapatnam remained in critical condition, with seven on ventilatory support and three requiring dialysis while on ventilation.
All five deceased and the 15 patients under treatment had consumed milk supplied by a vendor identified as Addala Ganeswara Rao. Blood samples of the deceased have been sent to a forensic laboratory in Vijayawada, and 41 other samples, along with fodder, have been forwarded to the Veterinary Biological Research Institute for testing; results are awaited.
Ex-gratia payments of ₹10 lakh each were handed over to the kin of four deceased by the East Godavari District Collector Kirthi Chekuri and Rajamahendravaram City MLA Adireddy Srinivas. The dairy operator, Addala Ganeswara Rao, who ran Varalakshmi Dairy for over a decade, was arrested on Tuesday.
There is growing political pressure to compensate all affected families, with former Health Minister Vidadala Rajini calling for ₹25 lakh ex-gratia for each deceased. The government has also asked private hospital authorities to submit cost estimates for the treatment of the patients as it assesses the overall financial burden.
Investigations are ongoing as officials seek to determine whether adulteration in the milk supply system contributed to the acute renal failure cases and fatalities. Officials reiterated the need for vigilance and rapid testing to prevent a repeat of such a health scare.
