Gandhinagar: In view of the waterborne typhoid outbreak reported in Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar Lok Sabha MP and Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah has directed the administration to take immediate and war-footing measures to control the situation and ensure public safety.
Shri Amit Shah held detailed discussions with Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harshbhai Sanghavi, the District Collector, and the Municipal Commissioner to obtain a complete assessment of the prevailing situation and issued necessary instructions for swift action.
The Union Minister instructed health authorities to ensure that affected children and citizens receive prompt and accurate treatment from specialist doctors. He also directed that food arrangements be made for patients and their relatives at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, ensuring no inconvenience to families during treatment.
Typhoid cases have emerged in Sectors 24, 28, and the Adivada area of Gandhinagar due to leakages in water pipelines, which led to contamination of the drinking water supply. Shri Shah ordered immediate repair of all identified leakages and instructed officials to conduct intensive inspections of pipelines in surrounding areas to prevent further spread of the disease.
In response to the suspected typhoid cases, the administration has launched extensive health surveillance and preventive operations.
- 75 health teams have conducted door-to-door surveys in Sectors 24, 26, 28, and Adivada.
- 113 suspected typhoid cases have been identified so far.
- 19 patients have been discharged, while 94 patients are undergoing treatment at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital and Urban Health Centres (UHCs) in Sectors 24 and 29.
- All patients are reported to be in stable condition.
To strengthen medical response, 24×7 OPD services have been started in the affected areas. Food arrangements have also been ensured for relatives of patients admitted to the Civil Hospital.
Survey teams of the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation have covered over 20,800 households, reaching a population of more than 90,000 people. As preventive measures:
- 30,000 chlorine tablets and
- 20,600 ORS packets
have been distributed among residents.
Teams are also distributing awareness pamphlets and advising citizens to drink only boiled water, avoid outside food, and maintain proper hand hygiene.
To control the outbreak, super-chlorination of water supplies has been intensified, with regular monitoring of chlorine levels. The Municipal Corporation has announced that by Monday, the 24×7 water supply system will be switched over, ensuring that adequately chlorinated water reaches even the farthest households.
As an additional precaution, municipal authorities are conducting strict inspections of vendors selling pani puri, ragda patties, ice gola, shikanji soda, and milk-based beverages across the city to prevent further health risks.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as coordinated efforts are underway to fully contain the outbreak and restore normalcy in Gandhinagar.
