Contaminated Water Triggers Typhoid Scare in Gandhinagar as Over 100 Fall Ill in a Week

Gandhinagar | January 4, 2026 A health scare has gripped Gujarat’s capital Gandhinagar after more than 100 people were reported ill with suspected typhoid over the past five days. Officials said that at least 104 patients, including several children, are currently undergoing treatment at the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, raising serious concerns about the safety of drinking water in parts of the city. The sudden rise in cases prompted Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi to visit the Civil Hospital on Saturday. He reviewed the situation, met patients and their families, and assessed the medical arrangements in place. Sanghavi said the state administration is closely monitoring the situation and has taken immediate steps to strengthen healthcare facilities. According to the Deputy Chief Minister, a special team of 22 doctors has been formed to treat the admitted patients. Senior administrative officials, including the deputy collector, have also been instructed to remain on constant alert and regularly assess the evolving situation. Sanghavi said that at present, 104 suspected cases have been reported, and efforts are being made to ensure timely treatment and proper monitoring. He added that arrangements for food and accommodation have been made for the families of hospitalised patients. The district collector and the mayor are personally overseeing facilities at hospitals to ensure that patients and their attendants do not face difficulties during treatment. Health officials noted that the number of typhoid cases has increased sharply in the last three days, with nearly a 50 per cent rise in positive cases during this short period. Most of the patients admitted so far are children, and a large number of them are being treated in the paediatric ward of the Civil Hospital. Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Mita Parikh said that the condition of all admitted patients is currently stable. She confirmed that water samples collected from the affected areas had tested unsafe for drinking, pointing towards contaminated water as a likely cause of the outbreak. She said doctors and nursing staff are closely monitoring patients and providing necessary treatment. In response to the findings, the health department of the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation has launched a door-to-door survey in the affected sectors of the city. The aim is to identify the source of the contamination and prevent further spread of the infection. Officials said teams are checking water supply lines, storage tanks, and sanitation conditions in residential areas. Residents in affected areas have been advised to drink only boiled water and consume freshly prepared home-cooked food until the situation improves. The civic body has also started distributing chlorine tablets to households for cleaning water tanks and ensuring safer water storage. The situation has drawn the attention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whose parliamentary constituency includes Gandhinagar. According to Sanghavi, Shah spoke to the district collector over the phone three times during the day to review the situation and is expected to take another review later. Officials said his office is closely tracking developments. Authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the suspected typhoid outbreak and to fix responsibility if lapses are found in water supply or sanitation systems. The administration has assured residents that all necessary measures are being taken to control the outbreak and prevent new cases. As health teams continue surveys and treatment, residents have been urged to remain cautious, follow safety advisories, and report symptoms such as fever, weakness, or stomach problems at the earliest. Officials said early detection and cooperation from the public will be key to containing the outbreak and restoring normalcy in the city. Contaminated Water Triggers Typhoid Scare in Gandhinagar as Over 100 Fall Ill in a Week A health alert has been sounded in Gujarat’s capital Gandhinagar after more than 100 people were reported ill with suspected typhoid in just five days. According to officials, 104 patients, including many children, are currently receiving treatment at the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital. Most patients are stable, but the sudden rise in cases has raised serious concerns. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi visited the Civil Hospital to review the situation and meet patients and their families. He said a special team of 22 doctors has been deployed, and senior officials, including the deputy collector, are monitoring the situation closely. Arrangements for food and stay have also been made for families of admitted patients under the supervision of the collector and mayor. Health officials said typhoid cases have increased sharply in the last three days, with nearly a 50% rise in positive cases. Water samples collected from affected areas were found unsafe for drinking, pointing to contaminated water as the likely cause. The Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation has started door-to-door surveys to trace the source of the outbreak. Residents have been advised to drink boiled water, eat home-cooked food, and clean water tanks using chlorine tablets being distributed by civic teams. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also reviewed the situation with district officials.