Three children have died and 37 others have been hospitalised after a suspected case of food poisoning in a hostel run by a religious organisation in Andhra Pradesh.
The incident occurred in a hostel run by Aradhana trust in Kailasa Patnam in Kotavuratla Mandal of Anakapalli district. The students had consumed snacks including samosa and chocolates during a meeting on Saturday and had rice and sambar in the night. They had complained of vomiting and uneasiness on Sunday.
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Anakapalli Collector Vijaya Krishnan said that 37 children are being treated in different hospitals in Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam districts.
Joshua, Bhavani, Shradha and Nitya were among those who succumbed to ill-health while undergoing treatment for consuming adulterated food two days ago (Saturday), said an official release.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday ordered a high-level enquiry into the death of three children at an orphanage in Anakapalli district, and also extended an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to their nearest kin or guardians.
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The Chief Minister has directed Anakapalli district collector Vijaya Krishnan to extend better treatment for the other affected children who are currently undergoing treatment at various hospitals. Further, he ordered the collector to submit a comprehensive report on the incident.
The CM spoke to Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav and also with the collectors of Anakapalli and Alluri Sitarama Raju district collectors about the incident.
"I have directed officials to extend better treatment to 17 students who are undergoing treatment at Anakapalli area hospital. The government will stand by the families of the deceased children," he said in a post on 'X'. The CM directed officials to take stringent action against the people responsible for this incident.