Kurupam tragedy: YSRCP leaders meet National ST Commission, seek fair probe

A delegation of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders, led by Araku MP Dr. Tanuja Rani, met with National Scheduled Tribes Commission Chairman Antar Singh Arya in New Delhi on Monday to demand strict action in the aftermath of the Kurupam tragedy, which claimed the lives of two tribal schoolgirls. 

The delegation held the Andhra Pradesh government fully responsible, and alleged that negligence and lack of basic facilities caused a rise of Hepatitis-A infection among the tribal students.

Speaking to the media, MP Dr. Tanuja Rani condemned the government for failing to review the situation or visit the victims. She accused Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of blaming the students’ personal hygiene instead of taking responsibility. “This is extremely painful and shameful,” she said.

Former deputy chief minister Pamula Pushpa Srivani described the tragedy as a result of long-term neglect of tribal welfare schools, and highlighted the malfunctioning of RO water plants and lack of sanitation. She announced that the YSRCP, under Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s leadership, would provide ₹5 lakh financial assistance to the families of each of the deceased girl’s.

Peedika Rajanna Dora emphasised that the deaths were entirely due to government negligence and called the blame-shifting by officials “inhuman.” The delegation urged the ST Commission to take strict action against those responsible and ensure a fair investigation.

The Commission reportedly assured the YSRCP that an inquiry would be conducted and that appropriate action would be taken against those found responsible.