Cases in city cross 100, state reports first death

Officials said 80% of total cases in city are from areas around the well on Sinhagad Road; 12 tankers were pressed into service

- Siddharth Gadkari

PUNE: State Health Minister Prakash Abitkar, who visited Pune to review the Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) situation, revealed that 80 per cent of the reported cases are from the areas around a well in Nanded village on Sinhgad Road, from which water is supplied to adjoining villages.

Acting on this, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) ordered that areas worst hit by GBS be served with water from tankers that will lift it from clean sources. Accordingly, 12 tankers were pressed into service since afternoon by PMC.

Namdev Bhajbalkar, assistant municipal commissioner of the Sinhagad Road ward office said, "As per the PMC commissioner's orders, we have started supplying drinking water to the GBS-affected areas through tankers."

PMC began providing clean drinking water through tankers to the affected societies in Nanded and Kirkatwadi including societies like DSK Vishwa, Moraya Sparsh, Pandurang Residency, Kalpak Homes Phase 2, Urban Park, Kamal Green Leaf, Anandban, Ingawale Patil Complex, Ujwal Nisarg Society, and Sai Galaxy.

"Additionally, water is being provided to residents of some individual houses through tankers. So far, more than 12 tankers have been deployed to supply water to citizens," said Bhajbalkar.

On Monday, the city reported 10 new GBS cases, bringing the total to 111, with 17 patients currently on ventilator support.

According to health officials, most cases have been reported from areas such as Nanded, Kirkatwadi, and Dhayari.

Inspecting the well in Nanded village, Minister Abitkar said, "Eighty per cent of cases are from areas around this well. The state health department and PMC are taking necessary measures to address the issue."