Anakāpalli (Andhra Pradesh): A devastating incident occurred in Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh where 27 students of an orphanage fell seriously ill after eating samosas. Three children lost their lives in the tragedy while 24 others are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals in the region.
The incident took place at an orphanage run by a Christian organisation in Kailasapatnam, Kotavuratla mandal, which provides shelter and education to over 80 tribal students from Chintapalli, Koyyuru, Gudem Kotha Veedhi, Paderu and other mandals of Alluri Sitarama Raju district. The students, who depend on the institution for their daily needs, were served samosas for breakfast on Saturday evening. However, soon after consuming these dumplings, many students suffered severe vomiting and other symptoms of food poisoning.
As the situation worsened, the orphanage organisers rushed three critically ill students to the hospital. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, Joshua from Nimmalapalem in Chintapalli Mandal, Bhavani from Koyyur Mandal and Shraddha from Chintapalli died during treatment.
The remaining 24 students are being treated at various hospitals in Narsipatnam, Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam. Seven children are being treated at Narsipatnam Regional Hospital while four others have been shifted to King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam for specialised treatment. The local authorities, including RDO Jairam, visited the affected students and ensured that they received the best possible care.
The incident sent shockwaves across the state and required a swift response from the government. Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Anita expressed her deep grief over the loss of young lives and has taken immediate action to ensure that the remaining students receive proper medical care. She spoke to the Anakapalli district superintendent and hospital heads to closely monitor the situation. Minister Anita has also directed the authorities to thoroughly investigate the cause of the food poisoning and take preventive measures to avoid such incidents in future.
The District Superintendent of Anakapalli and the District Superintendent of Narsipatnam are actively investigating the incident, focusing on the source of contamination. The Superintendent has also directed medical professionals to prioritize treatment of the affected students, stressing the need for the highest standard of care.
