The deaths after consuming allegedly adulterated milk in Andhra Pradesh’s Rajamahendravaram town in February have increased to 16, PTI reported on Sunday.

Laboratory findings showed that the persons had died of multi-organ failure, the news agency quoted a government press release as saying. The organ failures were triggered by acute renal failure after consuming the milk that contained ethylene glycol, it added.

Three persons continue to receive treatment at hospitals in the town.

Several persons had been hospitalised in mid-February after developing severe health complications, including vomiting, abdominal pain, anuria and acute renal dysfunction, after they consumed allegedly adulterated milk supplied in Chowdeswaranagar and Swaroopanagar areas of the town.

By February 24, four had died and several were undergoing treatment. Some of them had been in critical condition.

The symptoms of renal failure had begun a day after the festival of Maha Shivratri, which was on February 15, The Times of India quoted residents as saying.

District Collector Kirthi Chekuri had told The Hindu at the time that the persons had consumed milk supplied by the same vendor. The vendor has been taken into custody.

The milk had reportedly been procured from more than 40 dairy farmers and was being supplied to over 100 families. All persons who died and are ill are from the same areas of the town.

Samples had been collected from 75 families, the chief minister’s...

Read more