GBS Outbreak in Pune: Contaminated Water from Private Tankers Identified as a Major Concern

Pune Civic Body Detects E.coli in Private Tanker Water; Links Contamination to GBS Outbreak.15 Private Water Tankers Found Supplying Contaminated Water Amid GBS Cases in Pune.

Pune’s Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) outbreak has led to alarming findings as 15 private water tanker services in the city have been identified for supplying contaminated water, raising concerns over public health and safety.

PMC’s Water Testing Reveals Presence of Bacteria

In response to the recent GBS cases, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has ramped up water quality testing across the city. Civic chemist Mandar Sirdeshpande confirmed that bacteria were found in samples collected from 15 private tankers. “A report has been submitted to the civic water supply department, and the situation is serious as many citizens rely on private water tankers,” he said.

Lack of Regulation Over Private Tankers

Surprisingly, the PMC has no official record of the total number of private water tankers operating in the city or the sources they use. Water supply department chief Nandkishore Jagtap stated that a meeting was held with private tanker operators, but the response was poor. The PMC is now issuing notices and considering further action as per higher authorities’ directives.

To mitigate risks, private tanker operators have been asked to use disinfectants provided by the civic body until they can implement their own safety measures.

Neglected Water Tank Cleaning in Housing Societies

Further investigations revealed that many housing societies are not cleaning their water tanks, leading to additional contamination risks. Additionally, some societies mix borewell water from private tankers with PMC-supplied water, further increasing the likelihood of bacterial contamination.

The GBS-affected areas, including Kirkatwadi, Nanded, Nandoshi, and Dhayari, have now been supplied with clean, treated water by the civic body. Until now, these areas only received chlorinated but untreated water.

PMC Urges Citizens to Test Water Samples

The PMC has appealed to residents to get their water tested at the civic laboratory. The cost for biological testing is ₹340, while a detailed chemical analysis costs ₹1,620.

Despite the outbreak, the number of water samples submitted for testing has not significantly increased. Currently, around 540 samples are tested per day compared to 450 last year. The PMC water supply department has also been submitting 100 additional samples daily since the outbreak.

Sirdeshpande pointed out that despite testing 18,000 samples per month, the staff strength has remained the same for over 15 years, leading to operational challenges.

What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)?

GBS is a rare neurological disorder triggered by bacterial or viral infections. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. The outbreak in Pune has raised concerns over waterborne infections, with authorities scrambling to ensure clean and safe drinking water for residents.

Conclusion

The contaminated water supply from private tankers is now under scrutiny as Pune battles the GBS outbreak. The PMC is taking corrective measures, but citizens are urged to be cautious, test their water, and ensure their local water tanks are regularly cleaned.