Nagpur: Twenty-three people, including children, fell ill after consuming contaminated packaged RO water at a birthday celebration in Hanuman Nagar, exposing fresh concerns about lax quality checks in the city’s booming drinking water can business.The incident was reported to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) health department on July 4, following which officials collected water samples from the venue. Laboratory reports received on Monday confirmed that the RO can water had failed prescribed quality standards and was contaminated.Several patients were treated at NMC’s Isolation Hospital, while others were admitted to private hospitals. Health officials said all 23 were traced and are recovering.As a precaution, civic health teams distributed chlorine tablets and oral rehydration solution (ORS) packets in the affected localities and advised residents to maintain strict hygiene during the monsoon.A senior health official said investigators initially suspected contamination of the municipal tap water supply, as ongoing pipeline works and recent heavy rain could have allowed sewage to seep into damaged pipelines.“However, laboratory tests confirmed contamination in the RO can water. The function hall was also using well water. A notice will be served to the hall owner on Tuesday directing them to stop using both the well water and the RO water cans until compliance with safety norms is ensured,” the official said.The incident has again raised concerns over the quality of packaged drinking water cans, a largely unregulated sector. Civic officials admitted their powers are largely limited to issuing notices, underscoring gaps in oversight of commercial water suppliers.
