NHRC takes suo motu cognisance of 16 milk adulteration deaths in Rajamahendravaram

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday took suo motu cognisance of the milk adulteration case that has claimed 16 lives so far in Rajamahendravaram since February.

According to an official release issued by the NHRC, it also served notices on Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad and Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta, seeking a report within two weeks on the health status of the survivors, investigation into the incident, and compensation, if any, offered by the State government to the families of the next of kin of the deceased.

Twenty persons, mostly elderly people and three infants, suffered acute renal failure allegedly after consuming milk supplied by a vendor on February 15 and 16 at various locations in Rajamahendravaram.

“Reportedly, the milk was adulterated with a toxic substance identified as ethylene glycol,which caused multi-organ failure. The suspected source of contamination has been traced to a dairy in Narsapuram village, which was supplying milk to more than 100 households in the area. The Commission has observed that the deaths raise serious issues of human rights violations of the victims,” the release stated.