15 die in AP tribal village; food poisoning suspected
At least 15 tribal persons, including four children, have died and 32 others fell ill in the last 10-12 days, reportedly due to food and water contamination, at a village in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
At least 15 tribals, including four children, died and 32 others fell ill in the last 10-12 days, reportedly due to food and water contamination, at Chaparai hamlet of Boddagandi village in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
The deaths came to light only on Sunday, after the district administration, acting on an alert from locals, sent a team of doctors and revenue officials and brought the sick tribals to the area hospital at Rampachodavaram.
Chaparai, located about 130 km from Rampachodavaram, is inhabited by primitive tribal groups (PTG), who eke out a livelihood by hunting wild animals deep in the forests and do not like contact with the mainstream.
It has 65 families with a population of 325. According to district collector Kartikeya Mishra, they consumed contaminated meat at a wedding ceremony a few days ago, which resulted in the deaths of five people in two days.
“Unfortunately, the water in the local stream also got contaminated due to carcass of a cattle. This caused another 10 deaths over a period of next 10 days...” Mishtra told HT.
Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu instructed officials to announce a compensation of ₹5 lakh to the kin of the deceased.