Dozen fall ill in Gandhinagar after consuming contaminated water

A similar situation like Indore, has emerged in Gandhinagar, where a sharp rise in typhoid cases has been reported due to polluted water supply. More than 100 children, along with many adults, are battling illness, leading to a heavy influx of patients at the Civil Hospital, Gandhinagar.

Despite crores being spent on new pipelines under development projects, leakage and mixing of sewage water into drinking water lines has triggered the outbreak. Areas such as Sector-24, Sector-28 and Adiwada have been hit the hardest.

40 teams deployed for investigation

The situation has become so serious that a new ward had to be opened at the Civil Hospital. To contain the outbreak, 40 teams comprising over 80 staff, including health workers, multipurpose health workers and ASHA workers, have been deployed. So far, around 38,000 people across nearly 10,000 households have been surveyed.

Health officials have warned that if adequate precautions are not taken, many more people could be affected due to contaminated water.

Leakages in new pipelines

Under the Smart City project, new pipelines were laid in Gandhinagar at a cost of crores of rupees. However, leakages were detected at 10 locations, allowing sewage water to contaminate the drinking supply. Despite repeated complaints, action was allegedly delayed until the situation worsened. Emergency repairs have now been carried out and chlorination has been initiated in the affected areas.

‘Water not fit for drinking’

Investigations by the Rapid Response Team (RRT) revealed that water samples from affected areas were unfit for consumption. Medical tests, including Widal tests and blood cultures, confirmed the presence of typhoid bacteria in patients, linked directly to contaminated water.

50% surge in positive cases

According to civil authorities, children aged 1 to 16 years have been the worst affected. Currently, 104 children are undergoing treatment in the F2 and E2 wards. Over the past three days, positive cases have increased by 50%. A total of 42 patients are admitted at the Civil Hospital, while others are being treated at health centres.

Common symptoms

High-grade fever

Abdominal pain

Vomiting

Advisory issued

Authorities have urged residents to boil drinking water and maintain food hygiene. To curb the outbreak, 20,000 chlorine tablets, 5,000 ORS packets and 10,000 awareness pamphlets have been distributed. A separate team of 20 doctors has also been deployed.

Threat of protest

Meanwhile, the Gandhinagar City Housing Federation has warned of a mass public agitation if the government fails to resolve the issue immediately and take action against the responsible agencies.