Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh, is reeling from a deadly outbreak linked to tainted milk, claiming four lives in just 48 hours and hospitalizing over a dozen. The culprit appears to be anuria triggered by adulterated dairy products from a single supplier serving East Godavari neighborhoods.
The latest victims, identified as 72-year-old S. Sesha Giri Rao and 74-year-old Radha Krishnamurthy, passed away Sunday night at local hospitals. Preceding them were two others, with three patients still in grave danger. From Lala Cheruvu and Choudeshwari Nagar, these families unknowingly ingested the poisonous supply starting February 15.
What began on Mahashivratri with oddly bitter milk and curd has escalated into a public health crisis. Affected include vulnerable groups: the elderly, a toddler, and an infant. Police have arrested vendor Ganesh following family complaints.
District administration notes 14 admissions since the onset, all tied to one milk source. Collector Kriti Chekur awaits autopsy findings, bolstering probes with expert teams from medical and health departments.
On high alert, the Health and Family Welfare Commissioner G. Veerapandian oversees sample collections across impacted areas. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, in a crisis meeting, grilled officials and mandated premium treatment for survivors, sample testing from 75 of 106 supplied homes, and on-site medical camps.
Lab results will dictate the vendor’s fate, with the CM pushing immediate senior-level interventions. This scandal highlights systemic gaps in food supply chains, urging comprehensive reforms to safeguard consumers from such lethal oversights. Families demand justice as the death toll raises alarms statewide.