Varalakshmi Dairy Milk Contamination in East Godavari Causes 13 Deaths, Investigations Underway
Thirteen dead and seven hospitalised in Andhra Pradesh after ethylene glycol found in milk from Varalakshmi Dairy.
The death toll from a suspected milk contamination incident in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, has risen to 13, while seven others remain hospitalized in Rajamahendravaram, officials said on Thursday. Authorities have identified the likely cause as adulterated milk supplied to local residents in Lalacheruvu, prompting urgent public health and law enforcement responses.
Health department officials reported that the cluster of cases was first detected on February 22, when several elderly residents from Chowdeswaranagar and Swaroopanagar areas were admitted with symptoms including anuria, vomiting, abdominal pain, and acute renal dysfunction requiring dialysis. Epidemiological investigations indicated that consumption of contaminated milk was the probable trigger, with laboratory tests confirming the presence of ethylene glycol, a toxic chemical, in blood and urine samples of affected individuals.
Preliminary findings suggest that the contaminated milk was distributed to nearly 106 families by Varalakshmi Milk Dairy in Narasapuram village, Korukonda mandal. The supply has since been halted, and emergency medical camps have been established in the affected areas, with doctors and ambulance services deployed around the clock. Rapid Response Teams comprising district surveillance officers, physicians, microbiologists, paediatricians, forensic experts, epidemiologists, and nephrologists are overseeing patient care and containment measures.
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The Food Safety Department has inspected the implicated dairy unit and collected samples of milk, paneer, ghee, drinking water, and vinegar for detailed analysis. These samples were sent to laboratories, including Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada and VIMTA Labs, Hyderabad, for microbial, physico-chemical, and toxicological testing. In addition, the Animal Husbandry Department has dispatched veterinary experts to examine milk, cattle feed, and water samples, which have been sent to the Veterinary Biological Research Institute, Vijayawada.
Law enforcement agencies have taken Addala Ganeswararao (33), a resident of Narasapuram, into custody, and the dairy unit has been sealed. Teams from CLUES (Crime Scene Linking Understanding Evidence and Science) and forensic experts conducted inspections, and post-mortem samples have been sent to the Regional Forensic Laboratory, Vijayawada. Police continue to trace the distribution network and identify other potentially affected consumers.
Authorities emphasized the seriousness of the incident, warning residents to avoid milk from unverified sources and urging prompt medical attention for anyone showing symptoms. The incident has highlighted vulnerabilities in local milk supply chains and prompted coordinated action across health, veterinary, and law enforcement departments to prevent further cases.
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