Pune Municipal Corporation Investigates Suspected Water Contamination After 13 Marathwada Mitra Mandal’s Institute of Technology Students Hospitalised
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Pune, February 17, 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has launched an inquiry into possible water contamination at Marathwada Mitra Mandal’s Institute of Technology (MMIT) in Lohegaon after 13 hostel students were admitted to hospital with symptoms of suspected food or waterborne illness.
According to civic officials, the students reported falling ill between 7.30 pm and 10.30 pm on February 13. Twelve female students and one male student, all aged between 18 and 19, were taken to Sai Shradha Hospital after experiencing stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness and loose motions. Medical teams from the PMC visited the hospital the same night to review their condition. Ten students have since been discharged, while three remain under observation. The hospital has registered medico-legal cases in connection with the incident.
On Monday, a PMC health team led by Dr Nina Borade inspected the college campus and hostel premises. Officials collected multiple water samples from three borewells and an additional private borewell used during supply shortages. Ten samples were gathered during the visit, in addition to earlier samples collected on Friday, and have been sent for laboratory testing. The team also examined the hostel kitchen, water storage systems and sanitation facilities, and interacted with institute authorities and students. A separate team from the Metropolitan Surveillance Unit (MSU), Pune, also conducted an inspection.
Civic authorities noted that the affected students include first-year engineering students residing on the second floor of the girls’ hostel, along with one physiotherapy student. Of the 195 female residents in the hostel, only a group from the same floor reported symptoms. The hostel houses a total of around 308 students, including boys and girls.
An MMIT official, speaking anonymously, said the institution is cooperating fully with the investigation. The official stated that the campus operates a centralised RO water purification system that undergoes regular maintenance, with the most recent servicing completed in December. The management questioned the likelihood of widespread water contamination, pointing out that no other hostel residents reported similar symptoms.
Laboratory reports are awaited, and the PMC has said further action will depend on the findings.
