A situation similar to the recent Indore outbreak has surfaced in Gandhinagar, where several residents have fallen ill after consuming contaminated drinking water. A sudden spike in typhoid cases has been reported, affecting over 100 children and many adults, putting immense pressure on the Civil Hospital in Gandhinagar.
Despite crores of rupees being spent on laying new pipelines under development and Smart City projects, sewage water reportedly mixed with drinking water due to leakages. Areas such as Sector 24, Sector 28 and Adiwada have been the worst affected.
40 teams deployed to investigate
The outbreak has forced the Civil Hospital to open an additional ward. To control the spread, 40 teams with over 80 personnel, including health workers, multipurpose staff and ASHA workers, have been deployed. Nearly 38,000 people from around 10,000 households have been surveyed so far.
Health officials warned that the number of cases could rise further if strict preventive measures are not followed.
Leakages found in new pipelines
Under the Smart City project, new water pipelines were installed at a cost of several crores. However, leakages were detected at 10 locations, allowing sewage to contaminate the drinking water supply. Authorities reportedly acted only after the situation worsened. Emergency repairs have since been carried out, and chlorination has been started in affected areas.
Water declared unfit for drinking
Tests conducted by the Rapid Response Team found water samples from affected localities to be unsafe for consumption. Medical examinations, including Widal tests and blood cultures, confirmed typhoid infection linked directly to contaminated water.
50% rise in positive cases
Children between the ages of 1 and 16 have been the most affected. Currently, 104 children are being treated in the F2 and E2 wards. Positive cases have risen by 50% in the last three days. A total of 42 patients are admitted to the Civil Hospital, while others are receiving treatment at nearby health centres.
Common symptoms reported
- High fever
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
Advisory issued
Authorities have advised residents to boil drinking water and maintain proper food hygiene. To tackle the outbreak, 20,000 chlorine tablets, 5,000 ORS packets and 10,000 awareness pamphlets have been distributed. A team of 20 doctors has also been deployed.
Protest warning
The Gandhinagar City Housing Federation has warned of a mass protest if the government fails to resolve the issue urgently and take action against those responsible.