Four states saw deadly water outbreaks: Centre

The Indian government has confirmed multiple recent outbreaks of waterborne diseases across four states, leading to hundreds of hospitalizations and some fatalities. While the government does not track city-specific data on deaths and diseases from contaminated drinking water, reports indicate serious incidents in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.

In Indore, Madhya Pradesh, nearly 459 people were hospitalized with vomiting and diarrhea towards the end of 2025, with deaths also reported. Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam Municipal Corporation saw 224 hospitalizations due to gastroenteritis and diarrhea in early 2026, also with reported fatalities, though the exact number was not provided.

Gujarat reported significant outbreaks in Gandhinagar, where 258 people were hospitalized with typhoid, and in Balasinor municipality, where 506 people were hospitalized due to leakages in aging water and drainage pipelines. Vadodara also reported 436 hospitalizations from water contamination in 2025. No deaths were reported in the Gujarat incidents.

The government attributes these contaminations generally to weaknesses in urban water distribution systems. These include leaking and aging pipelines, cross-connections with sewer lines, inconsistent water supply, corrosion, poor maintenance, and inadequate sewerage management. To address urban water security, cities under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 have developed City Water Balance Plans to assess and address water supply gaps.