After Indore tragedy, Gandhinagar and Bengaluru also face health crisis due to contaminated drinking water

January 4, 2026

New Delhi: Following 10 deaths in Indore due to sewage-mixed drinking water, Gandhinagar and Bengaluru are now facing a similar public health emergency. According to a Times of India report, people in both cities are falling ill, being hospitalized, and serious concerns are being raised about the quality of water.

Typhoid outbreak in Gandhinagar, over 70 cases

There has been a sudden increase in typhoid cases in several areas of Gandhinagar. The health department has confirmed around 70 active cases in Sectors 24, 26, 28, and Adiwada. Investigations have revealed that contaminated drinking water is the main cause of the infection.

Leakages have been found in at least seven places in the city’s pipelines, allowing sewage to mix with drinking water. In response to the situation, a 30-bed pediatric ward has been opened at the Civil Hospital. Doctors report an increase in children complaining of high fever, vomiting, and stomach problems, although none of the patients are currently in critical condition.

Despite a 24×7 water supply project worth ₹257 crore, officials admitted that water and sewage pipelines were laid too close, causing weak pipes to burst as soon as high-pressure supply began. The administration has initiated super-chlorination, and officials say water supply may return to normal within a few days.

Sewage Contamination in Drinking Water Also in Bengaluru

People in the KSFC layout in Lingarajapuram, Bengaluru, have been dependent on private water sources for the past week. Complaints of vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach problems have been reported for the past few months, but the severity of the contamination was revealed only recently during the cleaning of underground tanks.

Smelly, foamy water and black layers of sewage were found in the tanks. Following complaints, the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) investigated and confirmed sewage entering the drinking water line, although the exact location of the leak has not yet been identified. Local residents have expressed displeasure with officials’ “guesswork” digging.

Infrastructural Defects and Health Warning

Experts in both cities have blamed poor infrastructure planning and old pipelines for the problem. Leaks in water pipelines near sewage lines can directly spread infection.

The administration has urged residents to use boiled or bottled water, report any changes in color, odor, or taste in tap water, and seek immediate medical attention if they experience stomach-related symptoms. Drawing lessons from the Indore incident, experts have warned that if infrastructure is not repaired promptly, such crises could recur.