Amaravati, February 25, 2026: A tragic incident in Rajamahendravaram, East Godavari district, has claimed five lives due to suspected milk contamination. Victims developed acute renal failure after drinking milk from an unauthorised dairy unit named Varalakshmi Dairy in the Lalacheruvu area.
The operator, Addala Ganeswara Rao, confessed to a coolant (ethylene glycol) leak in a freezer on February 15, yet continued sales to around 106 households despite customer complaints of bitterness.
Police arrested the accused, sealed the unit, and registered cases under relevant sections including murder charges.
Health teams screened hundreds of residents, with 14-15 still under treatment several in critical condition, including children on ventilators and dialysis. The state government announced ₹10 lakh ex-gratia to victims' families and pledged to cover medical costs.
