Nearly 100 suspected typhoid cases in Gandhinagar, Amit Shah orders urgent action

Ahmedabad: Union home minister Amit Shah has asked authorities in Gandhinagar to act swiftly after a rise in suspected typhoid cases in the city, the Gujarat government said on Sunday.

The state government said cases of the water-borne disease were reported in Sectors 24, 28 and the Adivada area following a leakage in a drinking water pipeline. Shah directed officials to repair the damaged pipeline immediately and intensify efforts to prevent the spread of the infection.

According to the government, 113 suspected typhoid cases have been identified so far in Gandhinagar. Of these, 19 patients have been discharged after treatment, while 94 are undergoing treatment at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital and health centres in Sectors 24 and 29. Officials said all patients are in stable condition.

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Round-the-clock outpatient services have been started in the affected areas. Arrangements have also been made to provide food to relatives of patients admitted to the Civil Hospital.

Shah, who represents Gandhinagar in the Lok Sabha, has been regularly reviewing the situation and is in touch with deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghvi, the district collector and the municipal commissioner. On Sunday, he held a telephonic discussion with health department officials and stressed the need to ensure timely and proper treatment, especially for children and vulnerable residents.

He also instructed officials to carry out a detailed inspection of water pipelines in the affected and nearby areas and to repair any leakages without delay.

As part of containment measures, 75 health teams have been deployed across Gandhinagar to conduct surveys and monitor the situation. So far, more than 20,800 households covering over 90,000 people have been surveyed.

Officials said around 30,000 chlorine tablets and 20,600 ORS packets have been distributed as a preventive step. Awareness leaflets are being shared during house-to-house visits, advising residents to boil drinking water, avoid outside food and maintain hand hygiene.

The government said super-chlorination of water has been stepped up and chlorine levels in the drinking water supply are being closely monitored. Several pipeline leakages identified in the affected areas have already been repaired.

(with inputs from agencies)