23 Fall Ill After Drinking Contaminated RO Water in Nagpur Twenty-three individuals, including children, fell ill after consuming contaminated packaged reverse osmosis (RO) water at a birthday celebration in Hanuman Nagar, Nagpur. The incident, reported to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) health department on July 4, has raised fresh concerns about the lack of quality checks in the city’s growing bottled water industry. Officials collected water samples from the event venue and confirmed on Monday that the RO water failed standard safety tests and was contaminated. The affected individuals were treated at NMC’s Isolation Hospital and private medical facilities, with all 23 patients reportedly recovering. As a precaution, civic health teams distributed chlorine tablets and oral rehydration solution (ORS) packets in the affected areas and urged residents to maintain strict hygiene during the monsoon season. A senior health official noted that initial investigations suspected contamination of the municipal tap water supply due to ongoing pipeline repairs and recent heavy rainfall, which could have allowed sewage to seep into damaged infrastructure. However, laboratory tests confirmed the contamination was specifically in the RO can water. The function hall at the event was also using well water, prompting officials to issue a notice to the venue owner on Tuesday. The notice directs them to cease using both the well water and RO cans until safety standards are fully met. The incident has reignited debates over the safety of packaged drinking water, a sector largely operating without stringent regulation. Civic officials acknowledged their limited authority to enforce compliance, highlighting gaps in oversight of commercial water suppliers.#nagpur #nagpur_municipal_corporation #nmc #hanuman_nagar #nmc_isolation_hospital
