Two dead, several hospitalised in Andhra Pradesh’s Rajahmundry after suspected milk contamination

1 hour ago 17

2 min readFeb 23, 2026 03:01 PM IST

The two women—ages 85 and 70—were admitted to local hospitals along with seven others due to ill health in the last 24 hours. (File photo/Canva)

At least two elderly women have died due to suspected milk contamination in Andhra Pradesh’s Rajahmundry, officials said.

The two women—ages 85 and 70—were admitted to local hospitals along with seven others due to ill health in the last 24 hours. The two women died of acute renal failure, while the remaining patients are under treatment.

East Godavari District Collector K Kirthi Chekuri said that one milk vendor who supplies milk to over 100 houses in Chowdeshwari Nagar and Swaroop Nagar in Rajahmundry has been detained on suspicion of contaminating the milk with adulterants. Officials took samples from 75 houses to which the vendor had supplied milk and found evidence of contamination.

District Medical and Health Officer K Venkateswara Rao said that he received information from several private hospitals about people, mainly elderly individuals, admitted with symptoms of anuria (inability to pass urine). “We have sounded an alert in the areas where the milk vendor has been supplying milk. We have launched an investigation to find out what ingredients were used to adulterate the milk,” he said.

Collector Chekuri said that a Rapid Response Team has been constituted, which is visiting homes in the two localities and collecting milk, food, and water samples to be sent for lab analysis to check for any infectious diseases. Officials said that rapid-test medical camps have been set up, along with field-level medical camps, in the two affected localities. The government general hospital at Rajahmundry will conduct the post-mortem of the two deceased women to ascertain the cause of death.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the incident Monday and directed senior officials of the Food Safety and Medical and Health Department to visit Rajahmundry immediately.

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

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