Feb 24 News Live |Andhra Pradesh milk adulteration: Coolant leak led to deaths?
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Here is the top, trending news of Tuesday, February 24, 2026, including Indian politics, states' politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
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- 24 Feb 2026 10:09 PM IST
Andhra Pradesh milk adulteration: Coolant leak led to deaths?
The Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday (February 24) said no traces of urea have been detected so far in the suspected contaminated milk linked to the deaths and hospitalisations here in East Godavari district. Recently, four people died and nearly 15 others were hospitalised after consuming contaminated milk here.
"No traces of urea have been found so far in the suspected contaminated milk linked to the deaths and hospitalisations reported in East Godavari district," Health and Family Welfare Commissioner G Veerapandian said, addressing a press conference in Amaravati.
Out of the hospitalised people, he said seven remain critical. He said that if urea had been mixed in the milk, immediate kidney or liver failure would not occur, as such complications arise only after prolonged consumption.
Medical experts have indicated that severe complications may arise three to four days after consumption of milk mixed with ethylene glycol, said Veerapandian.
No new cases were reported on Tuesday and continuous health monitoring was being carried out in the affected localities of Rajamundry, located by the Godavari river, he said. Doctors have been made available round the clock in the identified areas and these measures will continue for another month, he added.
On the advice of senior doctors, special medicines not available locally are being procured from Chennai and Mumbai to improve kidney function of the affected persons, he said.
Meanwhile, samples of curd, ghee, paneer, vinegar and milk remnants collected from the affected houses were sent to National Food Safety Authority-recognised laboratories in Hyderabad and Kakinada for testing.
The milk sold by the vendor was not available, and clarity on the alleged adulteration will emerge based on the laboratory results expected in phases between Wednesday and Saturday, said Veerapandian.
Institute of Preventive Medicine (Food Safety Department) Director Neelakantha Reddy said a special inspection drive will begin from Wednesday at milk sale centres, manufacturers, storage units and wholesale traders across the state.
According to the commissioner, police have also questioned the mechanic who repaired the milk chilling machine as part of the ongoing investigation into the suspected coolant leakage. According to preliminary epidemiological investigation, milk consumption was identified as the primary cause of the sudden kidney (renal) complications reported among affected persons.
East Godavari District Collector Keerthi Chekuri said milk was supplied to 106 families from a private dairy in Narasapuram village and the supply was immediately stopped. According to the collector, seven of the 15 hospitalised persons are out of danger while the remaining are on ventilator and dialysis support.
Rapid response teams comprising the district surveillance officer, medical experts, microbiologists and nephrologists were immediately constituted and deployed in the affected areas, she said.
Chekuri said that 14 field surveillance teams visited nearly 680 houses and screened about 960 families. In 110 families, over 290 persons were identified and 315 blood samples collected for examination.
According to the district collector, of the 315 blood samples collected, 313 were found normal, while two persons showed elevated urea and creatinine levels.
Meanwhile, the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) formed a team of four veterinary doctors and collected 41 milk samples along with cattle feed and water samples, which were sent to the Veterinary Biological Research Institute for testing.
"With all departments taking coordinated action, the situation is currently under control," Chekuri said.
Meanwhile, the police said that a chemical coolant leak from the freezer of a vendor may have resulted in the death of the four people.
The samples collected from the storage unit and the supplied milk have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Vijayawada for detailed scientific examination.
"The milk was stored in a freezer at the accused person's residence and we suspect that coolant might have leaked into it. All necessary samples have been sent to the FSL," East Godavari Superintendent of Police (SP) D Narasimha Kishore told PTI.
- 24 Feb 2026 8:02 PM IST
PM Modi to visit Tirupparankundram temple on March 1
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reportedly visit the Subrahmanya Swamy temple in Tirupparankundram in Madurai during his visit to Tamil Nadu on March 1.
He is scheduled to address an NDA rally in Madurai at Mandela Nagar, the second after he kick-started the poll campaign at Maduranthakam near Chennai last month.
While in Madurai, he will visit the Tirupparankundram temple where a row over lighting the Karthigai Deepam atop the stone pillar erupted.
The Prime Minister will reportedly visit the temple to offer prayers.
- 24 Feb 2026 7:59 PM IST
Congress MLA Sajid Pathan gets death threat from Bishnoi gang associate
Congress MLA Sajid Khan Pathan has received a death threat and an extortion demand of Rs 10 crore allegedly from a Bishnoi gang associate, senior leader Vijay Wadettiwar told the Maharashtra assembly on Tuesday.
He demanded that Khan be provided with immediate security cover, prompting the Speaker to urge the government to treat the matter with urgency and take appropriate steps to ensure the MLA's security.
Wadettiwar said Pathan, who represents the Akola west constituency, received an international call on February 17 at around 3.30 pm in which the caller, identifying himself as Shubham Lonkar with links to the Bishnoi gang, demanded Rs 10 crore and threatened to kill him if the money was not paid.
According to Wadettiwar, the caller also warned that informing the police would provide only temporary protection and that the gang would still target him later.
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader described the threat as "extremely serious", saying the audio of the call was alarming.
He said the incident raises concerns over the safety of public representatives in Maharashtra.
"If elected representatives are not safe, what about ordinary citizens?" Wadettiwar asked, adding that the gang has a history of firing incidents.
He added that Pathan had no links with any criminal activity.
- 24 Feb 2026 7:48 PM IST
Elaborate security arrangements ahead of Deverakonda-Rashmika’s wedding
Elaborate security arrangements have been made around the wedding venue of actors Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandana, who are set to tie the knot at a luxury hotel in Udaipur on Thursday (February 26). Family members and close guests have arrived for the wedding festivities of the couple at the hotel in the outskirts of the city. Both the actors had reached Udaipur on Monday (February 23).
According to sources, pre-wedding functions are likely to be organised over two days before the main ceremony on Thursday.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made at and around the hotel venue. Private bouncers as well as police personnel have been deployed to ensure security during the wedding festivities. The security arrangements also include restrictions on drones to avoid any leak of photographs and videos from the high-profile wedding that has kept fans hooked.
Both the actors have shared hazy glimpses from the pre-wedding festivities on their Instagram stories. Rashmika posted a blurred image from what appeared to be a cricket match, with a small flag visible on the ground. Both Vijay and Rashmika also shared pictures suggesting they played a friendly cricket match with friends at the hotel premises, which they named the "VIROSH Premier League".
Rashmika also shared an image of the pre-wedding food arrangements with the dinner table decorated with pink tulips and white flowers. The couple, who worked together on films such as "Geetha Govindam" and "Dear Comrade", have dated for seven years but publicly confirmed the relationship only recently.
- 24 Feb 2026 6:17 PM IST
TMC, BJP hail SC order on SIR
The Trinamool Congress and BJP both hailed the Supreme Court's Tuesday (February 24) order allowing the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice to deploy judicial officers from neighbouring Jharkhand and Odisha to deal with claims and objections in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
The TMC blamed the Election Commission's "arrogant attitude" for such a situation, while the BJP accused TMC of deliberately plotting to stall SIR by delaying the process from the outset.
Describing the SC order as another resounding victory for "Bengal's Maa-Mati-Manush" in the Supreme Court, the TMC said in an X post, "No more selective humiliation of Bengal's voters. The ECI's desperate bid to rig the rolls by changing documentary standards mid-game has been crushed under judicial boots."
Squarely blaming TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and other party functionaries, BJP state President Samik Bhattacharya said the order of the SC that the judicial officers from two other neighbouring states should also be deployed in the SIR exercise means the "highest court in the country has no faith in the Bengal administration."
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi took note of a letter by the Calcutta High Court chief justice that said 250 district judges deployed in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise will take around 80 days to deal with the claims and objections.
- 24 Feb 2026 6:10 PM IST
Trump’s 10 pc global tariffs take effect after court setback
US President Donald Trump’s new global tariffs have officially come into force on Tuesday (February 24) at a 10 per cent rate on a broad range of imports, despite his earlier pledge to impose higher import taxes.
The move follows a legal setback on Friday, when the Supreme Court blocked several of Trump’s sweeping import tax measures, casting uncertainty over the administration’s trade agenda.
- 24 Feb 2026 6:04 PM IST
Ranji Trophy final: Pundir, Hassan take J&K to 284-2 against Karnataka on Day 1
Shubham Pundir made a superb unbeaten hundred as Jammu and Kashmir reached 284 for 2 at stumps on day one of their maiden Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka at Hubli on Tuesday (February 24).
Shubham smashed 12 fours and two maximums en route to an unconquered 221-ball 117. He formed a 139-run stand for the second wicket with Yawer Hassan (88) to set the foundation after skipper Paras Dogra won the toss and opted to bat.
Shubham later shared another unbeaten 105 stand with Abdul Samad (52) for the fourth wicket before the stumps were drawn.
Brief Score: J&K: 284 for 2 in 87 overs (Shubham Pundir 117 not out; Prasidh Krishna 2/36).
- 24 Feb 2026 5:13 PM IST
Record winter storm batters Northeast US, grounds 11,000 flights
A strong winter storm that brought record snowfall to the Northeastern United States started weakening late Monday, but problems with travel, electricity, and daily life are likely to continue for several days.
At its peak, more than 40 million people were under weather alerts as heavy, wind-blown snow covered major cities from Virginia to Massachusetts. Officials imposed travel bans, closed schools, and suspended transport services as blizzard conditions spread across the region.
In New York City, almost 20 inches (50 cm) of snow fell in Central Park from Sunday to Monday, the city’s heaviest snowfall from a single storm in more than ten years. Some parts of Long Island received even more snow, with Islip recording over 22 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm was historic in Providence, where 32.8 inches of snow set a new state record, beating the previous mark from the famous Blizzard of 1978.
- 24 Feb 2026 4:13 PM IST
Cabinet clears development of civil enclave at Srinagar airport for Rs 1,677 crore
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Tuesday (February 24) approved the development of the civil enclave at the Srinagar airport for an estimated cost of Rs 1,677 crore. The civil enclave project will be spread across 73.18 acres, and the new terminal building will come up in 71,500 square meters, according to an official release.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the approval for the project at a briefing post the Cabinet meeting in the national capital.
The project is estimated to cost Rs 1,677 crore, and the terminal building will be designed to handle 2,900 passengers during peak hours with an annual capacity of 10 million passengers per annum.
The government also said the project is expected to generate employment opportunities and stimulate investments.
- 24 Feb 2026 4:10 PM IST
Imran Khan taken to Islamabad hospital for eye treatment, shifted back to jail
Pakistan’s incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan was taken to a hospital in Islamabad for treatment of an eye ailment early Tuesday and later shifted back to jail.
Khan was diagnosed last month with right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) affecting his vision.
He was brought to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a second dose of anti-VEGF intravitreal injection, a doctor at the hospital told reporters. He had received treatment earlier on January 24.
After examination by a board of specialists and necessary tests, he was injected with a second dose of intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF, the doctor said.
The procedure was carried out as a day-care surgery and Khan’s vitals remained stable throughout, the doctor added. He was discharged after the procedure with instructions for care and follow-up.
Khan has been in jail since August 2023 following his conviction in a corruption case.
