“I have never felt so helpless in my life. There was nothing anyone could do, not even expert doctors, except watch them slowly die,’’ said Nandini, a relative of B Veeralakshmi, who died of acute renal failure on Thursday. The 60-year-old became the 13th victim of the Rajahmundry milk adulteration incident in Andhra Pradesh that first came to light on February 22, following the death of an elderly woman in Rajamahendravaram of East Godavari District.
“Veeralakshmi was admitted on February 16 at a private hospital. She was on a ventilator support and did not recover from acute renal failure,’’ a police officer said.
The milk adulteration was reported in Chowdeshwari Nagar and Swaroop Nagar in Rajahmundry, where a milk supplier delivers milk every morning to about 100 houses. While the victims consumed the deadly milk between February 11 and 14, and were hospitalised from February 16 with symptoms of anuria (absence of urine output), vomiting, and abdominal pain, the first casualty of the milk adulteration incident was reported at the Kakinada Government Hospital on February 22.
Kirthi Chekuri, East Godavari District Collector, said that police investigation and reports from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) have revealed that the freezer where the milk was stored was damaged, and the toxic coolant liquid, which leaked in the freezer, got mixed with milk and curd.
“Some of the residents did complain about the bitter taste of milk to the supplier, A Ganeshwar Rao, of Varalakshmi Milk Centre at Narasapuram. He found out that the coolant was leaking and got the freezer repaired, but did not inform anyone,’’ Chekuri said.
The coolant has been identified as ‘ethylene glycol’.
Seven people are currently undergoing treatment at various hospitals, the police said.
The police arrested Ganeshwar on February 23 and booked him under Section 194 (unnatural or suspicious death) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
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The police have raided the Varalakshmi Milk Centre at Narasapuram and seized the freezer and other equipment. They said that Ganeshwar used to collect milk from several dairy farmers in Narasapuram village, store it in two freezers, later transfer the milk into cans, and ferry it to the two residential colonies in Rajahmundry every morning.
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
