Ahmedabad is facing a growing public health challenge this summer, with a sharp rise in waterborne diseases across the city, particularly in the eastern zones. Health authorities under the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) have reported a notable increase in cases of gastroenteritis, typhoid, jaundice, and cholera, largely attributed to contaminated drinking water.
Between May 1 and May 25, the city’s public and private hospitals recorded over 1,100 cases of waterborne illnesses. These included 640 cases of gastroenteritis, 312 of typhoid, 193 of jaundice, and 21 cases of cholera. Officials confirmed that the majority of cholera cases emerged from the eastern parts of Ahmedabad, with Lambha and Behrampura identified as the most affected localities. Lambha alone reported six cholera cases, the highest for any single area. The health department’s surveillance data suggests that water contamination has become a serious concern as temperatures climb during summer, especially in areas with inadequate sanitation and ageing pipeline infrastructure. While the western parts of the city also reported a few isolated cases, the bulk of the impact has been felt in the east, where rapid urbanisation has outpaced civic infrastructure upgrades.
The numbers are especially concerning given that cholera—a highly infectious and potentially life-threatening disease—has made a comeback after a relatively quiet spell. In May 2024 alone, Ahmedabad saw 32 cholera cases, 21 of which were recorded in just the first 25 days, indicating a sharp rise that may continue into June. The AMC has initiated emergency water quality checks in response. In a span of 25 days, civic teams collected and tested over 44,000 drinking water samples for chlorine content. Of these, 53 samples were found to lack the required chlorine levels. Moreover, out of 5,794 bacteriological tests conducted during the same period, 43 samples failed to meet safety standards—prompting authorities to intensify chlorination drives and public advisories.
Officials indicated that proactive monitoring is in place, with regular testing of supply lines, local reservoirs, and community water tanks. However, experts pointed out that reactive measures alone may not suffice. Public health researchers argue that long-term planning, including infrastructure overhaul, public education, and decentralised water purification, is critical to prevent recurring seasonal outbreaks. From January to May this year, Ahmedabad recorded nearly 3,000 gastroenteritis cases, over 1,500 typhoid cases, 931 instances of jaundice, and 47 cholera infections—many of which have been traced back to water contamination. In comparison to previous years, these figures mark a visible uptick, particularly in areas with older pipeline systems prone to leakages and cross-contamination.
While waterborne diseases are common during summer due to high temperatures that promote bacterial growth in water sources, the severity of this year’s outbreak is alarming. Public health professionals note that with changing climate patterns and rising urban heat, cities like Ahmedabad must prioritise water safety as part of their broader climate resilience and public health strategy. AMC officials have assured that water disinfection efforts will be scaled up across vulnerable zones, and that community outreach programmes are underway to educate citizens on hygiene, safe water storage, and the importance of boiling water before consumption.
As Ahmedabad continues to urbanise rapidly, the struggle with seasonal waterborne diseases reflects deeper structural issues in water management and civic planning. Without sustained investment in water infrastructure and health education, the city risks facing recurring waves of such preventable diseases every summer.
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