Amaravati, February 23 – The Andhra Pradesh government announced on Monday that it would provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of four people who died after consuming adulterated milk in Rajahmundry.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu made the announcement in the Legislative Assembly.
He also stated that the government would cover the medical expenses of those receiving treatment in hospitals.
Describing the incident as tragic, the Chief Minister expressed deep sympathy for the families of the deceased.
He told the Assembly that the affected individuals were undergoing treatment in hospitals, experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, stomach pain, and dialysis problems. Doctors found elevated levels of urea and serum creatinine in their blood during clinical tests.
The Chief Minister stated that Varalakshmi Milk Dairy in the village of Narasapuram, part of the Korukonda mandal, supplies milk to 106 families in two areas of Rajahmundry daily.
Officials have confirmed that the victims fell ill after drinking milk from this dairy. Four people died in the incident. Ten others are currently receiving treatment, and two of them are on ventilators. Three of the deceased were over 70 years old, while the fourth was 58 years old.
The Chief Minister said that blood samples from the affected individuals have been taken and sent to laboratories in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam for testing.
He revealed that the dairy manager, Addala Ganeswara Rao, has been detained by the police and is being questioned. A case has been registered based on the complaint filed by the families of the deceased.
"If anyone engages in this adulteration out of greed for money, we will take it seriously. We will take action against the culprits after the investigation," the Chief Minister said.
He warned that the government will not remain indifferent to anyone in the state who engages in adulteration or acts that cause trouble to the people.
Earlier, after learning about the incident of locals falling ill and several deaths due to the consumption of adulterated milk in the Chowdeshwari Nagar and Swaroop Nagar areas of Rajahmundry, Chief Minister Naidu held a review meeting with officials.
In a review meeting with the District Collector, the SP, Medical and Health Department, and Food Safety officials, he enquired about the details of the incident. He also enquired about the medical assistance being provided to the victims.
The Chief Minister ordered that the best medical services be provided to those receiving treatment. Officials said that samples have been collected from 75 people from the families who consumed the milk, while samples were being taken from the remaining people.
Naidu ordered that senior officials of the Food Safety and Medical and Health Departments should immediately go to Rajahmundry and monitor the situation.
He again reviewed the situation in his chamber in the Assembly with ministers and officials in the afternoon.
