Suspected Water Contamination Sickens Over 300 in Noida Housing Society

Over 300 residents, primarily women and children, of a Noida Extension housing society fell ill due to suspected water contamination, officials reported on Tuesday. The local health department responded swiftly by setting up a temporary camp for check-ups and treatment.

Raj Kumar, a media professional residing in Supertech Ecovillage 2, revealed that the issue surfaced during a discussion about water shortage on a WhatsApp group. A resident mentioned their child had diarrhoea and vomiting, which led others to share similar symptoms. It soon became clear that hundreds were affected.

Health Department's Response

Gautam Buddh Nagar Chief Medical Officer Dr Sunil Sharma stated that health teams, including doctors, were dispatched immediately after receiving the information around midnight. "The cases appear to be of vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach ache and fever which are being treated," Sharma said after visiting the society.

On Tuesday evening, Dr Sharma reported that 339 patients were tested, with nine having fever and 330 suffering from stomach ache, vomiting, and diarrhoea. The medical team provided treatment to all patients and distributed essential medicines and ORS packets.

Water Contamination Concerns

Ashish Srivastava, another resident, suggested that water contamination might be the cause since the society's water tanks were cleaned recently. "Water is the common factor in all households," he noted. A local doctor confirmed infections among several patients who approached him.

The Greater Noida Authority inspected the water supply but found no immediate faults. However, they took water samples for testing as a precautionary measure. The authority's statement mentioned that CEO N G Ravi Kumar reviewed the situation seriously.

Inspection Findings

The District Malaria Officer and his team discovered water stagnation in some basement areas with larvae present. Consequently, a Rs 10,000 challan was issued, and water samples were taken from flats in towers with the most patients.

The Greater Noida Authority's initial probe indicated no fault in the supply water. However, residents informed the authority that dirty water was supplied after the society's tank was cleaned recently, leading to illnesses.

Water Supply Management

General Manager of Water Supply Department Jitendra Gautam clarified that all group housing societies in Greater Noida receive water from the authority only up to their reservoir. The builder or Apartment Owners Association manages the supply to individual homes.

Supertech Ecovillage 2 is one of the largest group housing societies in Noida Extension, also known as Greater Noida West. It comprises around 20 high-rise towers, each containing approximately 150 flats.

The local health department is still determining the exact number of affected individuals and the cause of illnesses. Meanwhile, residents continue to recover under medical supervision.