Four people have died in Andhra Pradesh after allegedly consuming adulterated milk, prompting an official investigation and the arrest of a dairy owner, according to reports.
The incident has raised concerns about food safety and milk adulteration practices in the region.
According to Hindustan Times, the victims reportedly fell ill after consuming milk sourced from a local dairy in the state. East Godavari district superintendent of police (SP) D Narasimha Kishore said reports of anuria (cessation of urine output) and kidney-related cases began surfacing in Chowdeshwari Nagar area from February 16.
Symptoms were said to have developed shortly after consumption, leading to hospitalization. The SP said the deceased were identified as N Seshagiri Rao (72), Radhakrishna Murthy (74), Tadi Krishnaveni (76) and Tadi Ramani (58). Krishnaveni and Ramani died on Sunday, while the other two patients succumbed on Monday. 10 more have been hospitalised and is receiving critical care.
Authorities have detained the dairy owner in connection with the case. Samples of the milk have been collected and sent for laboratory testing to determine the exact nature of contamination.
Police officials stated that a probe is underway to establish whether harmful substances were mixed with the milk intentionally or due to negligence.
Following the incident, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced an ex gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to the families of each deceased individual, according to ANI. “Samples collected from the victims were sent to laboratories in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam for analysis,” he said.
CM further said that a private diary named 'Varalakshmi Milk Dairy', from Narasapuram village of Korukonda mandal, was found to be supplying milk regularly to households in the affected locality. The diary has been sealed, and state authorities have also directed food safety officials to conduct inspections and take strict action if violations are confirmed.
Authorities have collected blood samples from 73 families and monitoring for symptoms are being conducted.
Milk adulteration refers to the addition of substances to milk to increase volume, shelf life, or profit margins. Common adulterants may include:
Water
Detergents
Urea
Starch
Synthetic chemicals
In some cases, contamination may occur due to improper storage or unhygienic processing conditions.
Consumption of adulterated milk can lead to symptoms such as:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Fever
Dehydration
In severe cases, especially if toxic chemicals are involved, it may result in organ damage or death.
India is one of the world’s largest producers and consumers of milk. Food safety authorities periodically conduct surveillance to detect adulteration.
Medical experts note that vulnerable populations, including children, elderly individuals, and those with underlying health conditions may face higher risks from contaminated food products.
Laboratory analysis in this case is expected to clarify the exact cause of illness and deaths.
(Rh)