Rajamahendravaram Shock: Coolant Leak Angle in Milk Deaths

A suspected case of milk contamination has snowballed into a major public health scare, leaving four people dead and at least 12 others undergoing treatment after consuming milk supplied by a local vendor. Investigators are now examining whether a refrigeration coolant leak from a household freezer may have triggered the fatal chain of events.

Sudden Medical Collapse Raises Red Flags

According to doctors, the victims developed acute kidney failure shortly after consuming the milk. In several cases, the body’s urine output reportedly stopped entirely, causing a rapid buildup of toxins. Medical experts say the unusually swift deterioration points toward chemical contamination , rather than routine food spoilage.

Police sources said the milk had been stored in containers inside a freezer at the vendor’s residence before being poured into distribution cans, along with freshly collected stock. During inspection, investigators allegedly found signs suggesting a possible coolant seepage inside the appliance.

This observation led to the working theory that a refrigeration chemical may have mixed with the stored milk. However, officials stressed that this is only a provisional finding , pending scientific confirmation.

Importantly, authorities have not established whether the vendor was aware of any leakage prior to distribution.

The accused vendor has been taken into custody, and his dairy unit has been sealed. A case has been registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita . Milk samples and material evidence collected from the freezer have been sent for forensic examination , while post-mortem reports are awaited.

Officials said the exact cause of contamination and whether it resulted from accident or negligence will become clear only after laboratory findings are received. Until then, the tragedy continues to raise troubling questions about storage safety and regulatory oversight.