Govt negligence resulted in Turakapalem deaths – YSRCP demands immediate action

Tadepalli, 14 October,: The YSR Congress Party has strongly condemned the coalition government’s failure to prevent the alarming and mysterious deaths continuing in Turakapalem village of Ponnur constituency in Guntur district for the last six months. Over 45 people have died so far under unexplained circumstances and at least 25 more villagers are undergoing treatment, yet the government has made no effort to identify or address the root cause of the crisis. Deeply distressed by the ongoing deaths, villagers along with YSRCP leaders from Guntur district met YSRCP State Coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy seeking intervention of former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, stating that only he will ensure justice for Turakapalem.
Addressing the media at the party central office, YSRCP leaders Dr. Gopireddy Srinivasa Reddy, Dr. Monditoka Jaganmohan Rao, and Balasani Kiran said the government has shown inhuman negligence by reducing the tragedy to a mere compensation exercise, trying to wash its hands off by paying ₹5 lakh per victim instead of saving lives. They demanded that the government immediately release medical and scientific reports related to water, health and toxicology tests conducted in the village, which are being deliberately suppressed. They revealed that contaminated water supplied from Quarrygunta is suspected to be the primary cause behind mass illness and deaths. Despite villagers complaining to authorities six months ago, the government failed to act. Majority of the victims belong to SC, ST and BC communities, yet the ruling regime has shown no accountability. A YSRCP delegation will visit Turakapalem on 15th October to meet victims’ families, review health conditions, and fight until justice is done.