The death toll in the suspected milk adulteration case at Rajamahendravaram in east Andhra Pradesh’s Godavari district has risen to nine, district officials said on Friday.
“While five people died while undergoing treatment at various hospitals till February 24, four more died in the last four days, with the latest death being that of a 69-year-old woman, G Venkatalakshmi, in the early hours of Friday,” an official statement issued by the district authorities said.
Another 11 people are still undergoing treatment at four private hospitals in Rajamahendravaram, of whom eight are still on ventilators and their condition remains critical. The statement said that the remaining three patients are undergoing dialysis treatment and their condition is stable.
Although there have been multiple admissions of people in different hospitals with symptoms of anuria (absence of urine output), vomiting, abdominal pain and acute renal dysfunction since February 16, the problem came to light only on February 22 after the death of a 76-year-old woman at a private hospital in Rajamahndravaram.
The police, the authorities of the district health directorate and the medical directorate moved to initiate the investigation. The affected people belong to Chudiswaranagar and Swarupanagar areas of Rajamahndravaram.
The official statement said: “Clinical findings indicated acute renal failure with elevated blood urea and blood creatinine levels, indicating exposure to the toxins. The initial epidemiological investigation indicated a strong link to milk consumption as a potential source of exposure.”
Police investigation revealed that milk was supplied to 106 families from Varalakshmi Dairy Company in Narasapuram village. “The milk supply from these warrants was immediately stopped and its owner Adala Ganeswara Rao (33) alias Ganesh has been arrested,” the statement said, adding that the police have registered a criminal case at Town-III police station, under Section 194 of BNSS.
Emergency medical camps were set up in the affected areas and it was ensured that all people who consumed the milk provided by the accused received medical treatment. Specialist doctors from Hyderabad, including senior nephrologist Dr Ravi Raju, have arrived in Rajahmundry to supervise and standardize treatment protocols, the statement said.
