Amaravati, March 12 – The death toll from milk adulteration in Rajahmundry city, Andhra Pradesh, rose to 13 as another person succumbed to acute renal failure in a hospital, officials said on Thursday.
Bandaru Veeralaxmi (60) died while receiving treatment at the hospital, bringing the death toll to 13.
A resident of the Swaroopnagar area in the city was admitted to the hospital on February 16 after reportedly consuming adulterated milk.
Seven people, including three infants, are still fighting for their lives with acute renal failure.
Residents from the Chowdeswaranagar and Swaroopanagar areas of Lalacheruvu fell ill after consuming adulterated milk supplied by the same vendor.
According to East Godavari District Collector Kirthi Chekuri, as many as 20 people suffered acute renal failure after consuming milk adulterated with Ethylene Glycol.
She said that on February 16, some people who consumed the adulterated milk were admitted to various hospitals due to urinary obstruction and kidney-related problems.
The incident came to light on February 22 after Tadi Krishnaveni (76) died while receiving treatment for anuria (inability to pass urine) at the Kakinada Government Hospital.
Based on the report provided by the deceased's son, a case was registered at the Rajahmundry 3 Town Police Station under Section 194 of the BNSS.
As part of the investigation, blood samples of the victims, adulterated milk, curd supplied to the victims, as well as milk from the Varalakshmi Milk Centre run by Addala Ganeswara Rao in Narasapuram, the freezer used for storage, and other materials were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), and other labs.
According to the Collector, the investigation revealed that Ganeswara Rao, alias Ganesh, 37, had been collecting milk from 43 farmers around the Narasapuram village for some time, storing it in a freezer with two containers at his house, and later pouring it into cans and supplying it to people residing in the Chaudeswaranagar and Swaroopnagar areas of the city.
When customers complained to Ganesh about the bitter taste of the milk, he noticed that the freezer was leaking for two days and got it repaired at a workshop in the city.
Based on the five reports from the FSL and RFSL labs, and the final opinion given by the Forensic Assistant Professor, it was found that the deceased died from acute renal failure due to the consumption of adulterated milk containing toxic Ethylene Glycol.
Ganesh has been arrested and sent for judicial remand.
