Andhra Pradesh Tragedy: 7-Year-old Tribal Girl Dies, Over 50 Hospitalised After Being Administered Pills During Anti-Malaria Drive

Polavaram district in Andhra Pradesh has witnessed a tragic incident where a seven-year-old tribal girl lost her life and 52 others were hospitalized after receiving chloroquine tablets as part of an anti-malaria campaign. The young girl, Madivi Jamuna, passed away while displaying symptoms like unconsciousness and was later pronounced dead. She was among 47 children and 17 others who received medical assistance at a special camp.

The cause of Madivi Jamuna's death is currently under investigation. The child's illness began after she consumed one of the tablets during the distribution, coinciding with a decrease in her blood glucose levels. She was initially treated at a nearby primary health center before being transferred to a more advanced medical facility, but her condition was fatal.

District Collector K. Dinesh Kumar visited Bhadrachalam area Hospital to assess the situation. He assured the public that there is no cause for panic, as the patients receiving treatment are currently stable. The chloroquine tablets used in the village have received satisfactory quality-control results, but the specific batch administered in Polavaram has been sent to the Vizag Forensic Laboratory for further analysis to determine the exact cause of the incident.