Child dies, 52 hospitalized after chloroquine tablets given in antimalarial

A seven-year-old Koya girl, Madivi Jamuna, reportedly died hours after she was administered a chloroquine tablet, while 52 villagers, mostly children, were admitted to hospitals at Gollaguppa village in Yetapaka mandal of Polavaram district on Tuesday.

Integrated Tribal Development Agency (Chintoor) Project Director Subham Nokwal told The Hindu; “One girl, identified as Madivi Jamuna, has died. Officials are monitoring the situation,”

According to an official release issued by the Public Relations Department, staff at the Lakshmipuram Primary Health Center on Tuesday administered chloroquine tablets to 71 people in Gollaguppa village as a precautionary measure following reports of malaria cases in the village. Till Tuesday, at least five cases of malaria were reported from the village.

The statement said, “As many as 28 villagers, mostly children, have been taken to Bhadrachalam Government Hospital where their condition is out of danger. All of them have been given chloroquine tablets.” Another 24 villagers were admitted to PHC Lakshmipuram in Yetapaka Mandal.

Polavaram District Collector K. Dinesh Kumar told The Hindu; “Officials are monitoring the treatment and condition of those admitted to hospitals. All villages receiving treatment are stable and out of danger.”

Published – 01 Sep 2026 23:43 IST