Three children died, 37 hospitalised after food poisoning in Andhra's Anakapalle

Anakapalle (Andhra Pradesh) [India], August 19 (ANI): Three children died and several others were hospitalised due to a suspected case of food poisoning in a hostel run by a religious organisation (Aaradana Trust) in Kailasa Patnam, Kotavuratla Mandal of Anakapalli district in Andhra Pradesh, on Monday, said Anakapalli Collector Vijaya Krishnan.
Among the deceased, two are girls and one is a boy.
A total of 86 children are staying in these hostels. 27 of them fell ill after eating poisoned food. 5 of them were shifted to Visakhapatnam KGH on Monday morning in critical condition, said authorities.
Children from first to fifth-grade stay in this hostel and study at a local school.
According to the Collector, biryani was served to the children staying in the hostel. As soon as the children started vomiting after eating this biryani, the organisers immediately informed their parents. Parents came and took the children and left.
As the condition worsened on Monday morning, while being shifted to Narsipatnam Area Hospital for better treatment, two girls named Shadda and Bhavani from Chintapalli mandal died. A boy named Joshua from Koyyur mandal also died. Seven people were taken to Narsipatnam Area Hospital in critical condition.
Five of them were sent to Visakhapatnam. 16 children are being treated in government hospitals in Chintapalli, Paderu and Koyyur.
Narsipatnam RDO HV Jayaram is in the area hospital and the situation is being reviewed, said authorities.
Meanwhile, YSRCP (Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party Chief) and former Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy expressed shock and deep sorrow over the tragic incident.
Reddy demanded that the authorities provide the best medical facilities to the affected students and immediate support to the families of the deceased.
He strongly criticised the government's negligence, stating that this tragedy highlights the gaps in existing monitoring systems.
"The government should focus on improving the system and taking preventive measures to prevent such incidents instead of spreading false propaganda and engaging in mudslinging," Reddy said.
He urged them to focus on improving the system and taking preventive steps to prevent such incidents from happening again. (ANI)