Five-Year-Old Dies After Suspected Bite at Khammam Anganwadi

Overview

• Ayyadevara Dhanya Sri fell ill at a Tekulapalli Anganwadi and was taken by her parents to hospitals in Khammam and then Hyderabad, where she died while receiving treatment.
• The family says the child showed facial swelling and bite marks and suspects a poisonous snake or insect bite, but no medical or forensic confirmation has been published.
• Relatives, student groups and BRS, CPI and CPM leaders staged a two-hour protest that blocked the Khammam bypass road and demanded action and Rs 50 lakh in compensation for the family.
• ICDS and district officials met protesters, assured them an inquiry would be held and that the case would be pursued, and the demonstration was withdrawn after those assurances.
• The case has raised local concerns about safety and supervision at Anganwadi centres, with opposition figures blaming poor maintenance and staff shortages and officials saying they will investigate and take action if wrongdoing is found.