VISAKHAPATNAM: Six additional students who had been hospitalized due to food poisoning at a hostel run by the Parisudhatma Agni Stuthi Aradhana Trust (PASA Trust) in Kailasapatnam, Kotauratla mandal, Anakapalle district on August 17 were discharged on Sunday.
The students discharged are Killo Jyothi, Marri Meenakshi, Marri Kumari, Burada Abraham, Pangi Mounika, and Pangi Meera. Unfortunately, three students lost their lives in the incident, and several others were admitted to various hospitals for treatment.
The children were transported home in two ambulances provided by the district administration.
In response to the tragedy, the State government granted an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased. Additionally, Rs 50,000 each was allocated to 44 students who suffered severe health complications from the food poisoning.
Initially, the six students under treatment at King George Hospital (KGH) in Vizag were moved to the Government Hospital in Paderu for further observation. On Sunday, Alluri Sitharama Raju district Joint Collector Dr. MJ Abhishek, along with ITDA Project Officer V. Abishek, visited the hospital. They offered condolences to the parents of the affected students and provided cheques for Rs 50,000 each, along with 25 kg of rice and nutritional kits. The officials also held a counseling session for the parents, advising them to avoid unauthorised hostels and to consider enrolling their children in government-approved facilities.
Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Deputy Director I. Kondala Rao was instructed to facilitate the enrollment of the affected students in nearby Ashram schools for their continued education.
The DMHO was tasked with arranging ambulances to return the six students, from Chintapalli and GK Veedhi mandals, to their home villages.
Additionally, three more students who were being treated at Medicover Hospital have recovered and were transferred to Paderu Government General Hospital (GGH). They are expected to be discharged on Monday after a final review of their health.