Negligence led to Ghatlodia health crisis, admits AMC

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has admitted to administrative negligence and a communication failure after contaminated drinking water triggered a health crisis in at least five residential societies in the Ghatlodia area, leaving dozens of residents suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting.The civic body’s admission came after residents of societies including Akanksha, Navratna and Tridev reported a surge in water-borne illnesses allegedly caused by sewage contamination of drinking water supplies.Standing committee chairman Kamlesh Patel acknowledged that while AMC officials had completed repair work on a damaged drainage line, they failed to inform residents that the water supply remained unsafe for consumption.“The information that the contaminated water was not potable was not conveyed to the people,” Patel said, adding that strict action would be taken against officials found responsible for the lapse.According to AMC officials, the crisis originated after a breakdown in a drinking water pipeline near Jantanagar Crossroads. During repair work carried out on Sunday, an overflowing drainage line allegedly resulted in sewage entering the drinking water network and underground storage tanks of nearby residential societies.Although the physical repairs were completed, residents were not warned against using the contaminated water. By Tuesday, multiple cases of vomiting and diarrhoea had begun surfacing across the affected localities.The incident has prompted intensified surveillance across the city. Patel said monitoring has been stepped up at 26 locations identified as high-risk zones, while nearly 40 health department teams have been deployed to conduct door-to-door surveys in the affected areas.The situation also drew intervention from the highest levels of govt. Union home minister Amit Shah reportedly directed civic and health authorities to take immediate corrective measures after reports emerged that around 50 residents had required medical treatment.According to a BJP release, Shah spoke with Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel and Ahmedabad mayor Hitesh Barot regarding the outbreak and instructed municipal commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani and health department officials to ensure all necessary measures were taken to contain the situation.On Thursday, CM personally contacted residents over the phone and assured them that the state govt would extend all necessary assistance, particularly in healthcare services and the supply of safe drinking water.Municipal commissioner Pani said immediate medical intervention was initiated after reports of illness surfaced. He maintained that around 50 people were affected following the pipeline failure that occurred on May 30 and that the fault had been repaired promptly.Residents, however, disputed the official figures. Rakesh Patel, a resident of Akanksha Society, claimed that nearly 600 residents in his apartment complex alone had fallen sick due to contaminated water. Residents from other affected societies also reported a significantly higher number of people seeking treatment than the figures stated by the civic authorities.AMC medical officer Dr Bhavin Solanki said 19 water samples had been collected for laboratory testing and chlorine tablets distributed to approximately 326 households. “Technical supervisors and engineers are also inspecting underground water tanks across the affected societies to prevent further contamination and curb the spread of infection,” he added.With inputs from Shinjini Sen