Anakapalle: 3 children die after eating adulterated food, 31 hospitalised

Anakapalle: Three children of an orphanage at Kailasapatnam in Anakapalle district died after eating adulterated food, while 31 children are undergoing treatment

On Saturday, August 18, the children ate samosa and chocolates, sponsored by another organisation. Later, some of the students went back to their villages along with their parents.

Three students, Bhavani, Shradha, and Joshua, complained of vomiting and uneasiness on Sunday night, following which they died on Monday morning.

Around 31 students complained of vomiting and uneasiness on Sunday night. They were immediately admitted to Narsipatnam and Anakapalli Area hospitals. Four of them who are in critical condition were shifted to KGH in Visakhapatnam.

The orphanage run-by a Christian Minority Kiran Kumar, accommodates around 86 children from parts of the ASR district. They stay at the home and are studying in the nearby schools. It is found that the orphanage has no permissions, and manages with donations.

Soon after the incident, the officials from the Revenue, Police and Medical and Health departments visited the orphanage to ascertain the reasons for the food poisoning.

The officials found that the Kiran Kumar runs a local church and a 'hostel' set up for these children in a shed-like structure, with no proper facilities.

Girl students are accomodated in a hut like structure. Toilet facility is only provided for girl students.

CM ordered for enquiry

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu directed Anakapalli district collector Vijaya Krishnan to extend better treatment for the other affected children who are currently undergoing treatment at various hospitals.

He announced ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakhs each for the deceased families. Further, he ordered the collector to submit a comprehensive report on the incident.

Run through donations

Anakapalli district superintendent of police (SP) M Deepika Patil on Monday said alleged negligent attitude towards ailing children led to the death of three minor students at Kailasapattanam due to food poisoning. Patil said the children died at their respective homes in the wee hours of Monday after allegedly consuming adulterated food donated to their ‘hostel’, which was consumed as dinner on Saturday.

"After that dinner they started falling sick," Patil told, adding that the pastor, Kiran Kumar, running the ‘hostel’ did not bother to inform the local officials but sent them home. Observing that the children were not orphans, the SP noted that they all had families and were entrusted to Kumar’s care, who runs a local church and a ‘hostel’ set up for them.

He would send the children to local schools where the mid-day meals would take care of their lunch, while breakfast and dinner needs would be met through donations, she said. Police suspect that some leftover food donated to the ‘hostel’ from a local death ceremony had led to severe vomiting, loose motions and dehydration and ultimately three deaths.

Out of 86 children, 30 are undergoing treatment, one is in a critical condition while the rest are doing well, said Patil, noting that all the children were traced and medically examined by the district authorities.