The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday issued a notice to the Gujarat government following a sharp rise in typhoid cases reported from hospitals in Gandhinagar, allegedly caused by the consumption of contaminated drinking water.
According to a communiqué issued by the Commission, media reports indicate that the Gujarat State Health Department has confirmed at least 70 active typhoid cases, largely concentrated in a specific locality of Gandhinagar city. Patients have reportedly been seeking medical treatment with symptoms such as high fever, abdominal pain, and other gastrointestinal complications typically associated with waterborne infections.
The outbreak has drawn attention to serious deficiencies in the city’s newly laid water supply infrastructure. Preliminary inspections have identified at least seven leakage points in the water pipeline network, leading to sewage contamination of drinking water supplied to residents. Public health officials suspect this contamination to be the primary cause of the spread of the disease.
Typhoid is a preventable but potentially life-threatening illness commonly linked to unsafe water and poor sanitation. Gandhinagar, the state capital, has witnessed rapid urban expansion in recent years, and residents of the affected areas had reportedly raised concerns about water quality soon after the new pipeline became operational.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the NHRC observed that the incident raises serious issues relating to the violation of the human rights of the affected citizens, particularly their right to health and access to safe drinking water.
According to media reports, the Commission has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Gujarat, seeking a comprehensive report within two weeks.
The NHRC has directed that the report should detail the current health status of both indoor and outdoor typhoid patients, medical facilities being provided to them, and the corrective and preventive measures taken or proposed by the state authorities to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.
Also Read: Typhoid Outbreak: Gujarat Ranks Near Bottom In Water Quality https://www.vibesofindia.com/typhoid-outbreak-gujarat-ranks-near-bottom-in-water-quality/
