Officials and residents said that hundreds of residents in several residential communities in the Ghatlodia area of Ahmedabad fell ill, and complained of diarrhea and vomiting, over the past four days after consuming contaminated water.
According to officials, a leaking pipe led to sewage mixing with Narmada water supply to the area.
Residents said they first reported the problem on Friday, but the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation ignored the complaints until Saturday. Repair work did not begin until after midnight, and when water supply resumed on Sunday morning, the water still had a foul odor, prompting a second round of repairs.
Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Banchanidhi Pani said, “There are about 50 cases reported at the outpatient clinic level. Most of them were treated and discharged after day care. The situation is under control.”
He added that Akanksha Apartments was one of the worst affected communities and health teams were deployed in different places. He added that more than 26 areas in the city were previously classified as high-risk and are subject to continuous monitoring.
Nearly 500 residents have fallen ill, said Rakeshbhai Patel, president of Akanksha Apartments Association.
“Drainage water and drinking water from the Narmada river mixed after the drainage line broke. On an average, at least one person in every house is affected,” Patel said.
On Navratna Street, about 200 residents fell ill over four days, according to a community member. Residents claimed that nearly 100 out of 200 residents were affected in Vande Mataram Apartments. At Vinayak Bungalows, about 50 residents on 28 floors have fallen ill.
