Three children died and several others were hospitalised due to suspected food poisoning at a hostel run by the Aaradana Trust in Kailasa Patnam, Kotavuratla Mandal, Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday, Anakapalli Collector Vijaya Krishnan reported.
The deceased include two girls and one boy. The hostel houses 86 children, and 27 of them fell ill after consuming poisoned biryani. Five critically ill children were transferred to Visakhapatnam KGH on Monday morning. The affected children, ranging from first to fifth grade, also study at a local school.
The incident unfolded after the children began vomiting following their meal. The hostel staff promptly informed the parents, who arrived to take their children home. Despite these efforts, two girls, Shadda and Bhavani from Chintapalli Mandal, and a boy, Joshua from Koyyur Mandal, passed away while being transported to Narsipatnam Area Hospital. Seven others were taken to the hospital in critical condition, with five later moved to Visakhapatnam. Sixteen children are currently receiving treatment at government hospitals in Chintapalli, Paderu, and Koyyur.
Narsipatnam RDO HV Jayaram is on-site, overseeing the situation.
YSRCP Chief and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy expressed profound sorrow and shock over the incident. He called for enhanced medical support for the affected students and immediate aid for the families of the deceased. Reddy criticized the government’s negligence, stating that the tragedy underscores significant flaws in monitoring systems. He urged the government to focus on systemic improvements and preventive measures rather than engaging in political blame and propaganda.