Gandhinagar, Gujarat: More than 100 people have fallen sick in Gujarat’s capital after consuming contaminated drinking water, triggering a typhoid outbreak that has raised serious concerns about public health safety. Most of the affected patients are children, prompting emergency medical response and intensified monitoring by state authorities.
Health officials confirmed on January 4, 2026 that the outbreak surfaced over the past five days, with hospitals reporting a sharp rise in fever related admissions.
Medical records show that a large number of patients admitted to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital are children between the ages of one and sixteen. Doctors said many families rushed children to hospitals after fevers failed to subside despite home treatment. While most patients are currently stable, several remain under close observation to prevent complications.
An initial investigation by health and municipal officials traced the outbreak to contamination in the drinking water supply. Authorities identified a sewage leak near a pipeline that supplies water to residential areas, allowing polluted water to enter household taps.
Residents of Adivada village and sectors 24, 26, 27 and 29 reported foul smelling and discolored water days before people started falling sick. Complaints had been raised locally, but the scale of contamination became evident only after hospital admissions surged.
Water samples collected from the affected areas were found unsafe for consumption. Officials immediately stopped supply from the damaged lines and began repair work. Clean water tankers were deployed to ensure residents had access to safe drinking water.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi visited Gandhinagar Civil Hospital to review the situation and assess medical preparedness. He said a team of 22 doctors has been deployed to manage patient care and monitor new cases.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who represents Gandhinagar in Parliament, has remained in touch with district authorities. He spoke to the district collector several times and directed officials to ensure prompt treatment, water supply repairs and continuous monitoring.
The outbreak comes soon after the recent water crisis in Indore, where contaminated municipal supply reportedly caused illness and distress among several residents, underscoring a growing pattern of water safety failures across urban centers.
(Rh/ARC)