Early police investigations revealed that the dairy vendor, identified as Addala Ganeswara Rao, distributed milk contaminated with harmful substances — including urea, detergent powder and oil used to thicken milk — and potentially worsened by a coolant oil leak from a refrigeration unit at his residence. The mix of adulterants and cooling fluid is suspected to have triggered acute renal failure and urinary complications among consumers.

The tragedy has prompted state officials to escalate the response: the district collector and police leadership are conducting a comprehensive inquiry, and food safety and health departments are coordinating forensic testing of milk and biological samples to pinpoint the exact contaminants. The government has pledged to cover treatment costs for hospitalised victims and urged anyone with symptoms to seek medical care immediately.

Public outrage has mounted as details emerged that the vendor had been operating his dairy for years without regulatory approval and reportedly continued selling contaminated milk even after warning signs. In addition to criminal charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, authorities seized the dairy unit to prevent further distribution while continuing forensic and police investigations.