Even as the doctors had flagged this earlier, a recent investigation by the Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu has reportedly revealed alarming levels of contamination in drinking water across the Jammu City. Contaminated water supply in several districts of Kashmir has also been reported and confirmed by the Health authorities, corroborating it by rise in number of cases showing severe water borne infectious diseases.
The alarming trend assumes much significance in the backdrop of the recent deaths reported in Indore where contaminated drinking water allegedly led to multiple fatalities and several hospitalisations, triggering a nationwide debate over water safety and monitoring mechanisms.
Out of 600 water samples collected over the past 12 months, 390 samples were found to be unsafe for consumption. The testing was conducted in the high-tech Microbiology Laboratory of GMC, the premier healthcare institution of the region.The samples were sourced from multiple locations, including schools, government offices, hostels, public areas, PHE supply tanks and taps, border areas, and other institutional setups.
The laboratory reports indicate that the bacterium E. coli was detected in all 399 contaminated samples. This bacterium, normally present in the human intestine, points to contamination through sewage or animal waste. Consumption of such water can lead to serious waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, nausea, fever, and other infections.
Of the total samples tested, around 200 met the safety standards and were deemed fit for drinking.
The highest number of samples, over 120, was tested in September last year, with 90 found unsafe. Similarly, in January 2026, 50 out of 90 samples failed to meet safety standards, and in February 2026, seven out of 15 tested samples were reported unsafe. Officials stated that this large-scale water sampling initiative aims to prevent potential outbreaks and ensure timely intervention to safeguard public health.
Pertinently, the number of patients suffering from various waterborne diseases in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has been increasing since the last three years as well over one lakh such cases are being reported each year since 2023 due to usage of contaminated water.
Despite the rising number of waterborne disease cases in Jammu and Kashmir, no comprehensive public health advisory or preventive campaign has so far been issued by the authorities to alert residents about the risks associated with unsafe water sources.As per the official data, a total of 102,236 patients suffering from various water borne diseases such as Jaundice, Diarrhoea, Hepatitis, Dysentery and Typhoid were reported in various hospitals of J&K in 2023.
This number swelled further in 2024 when a total of 130,100 patients suffering from various water diseases reported in the different hospitals across J&K.In the first seven months of 2025, 80,000 such cases were registered as per the data and the officials said the number is most likely to well beyond 103000 as the data is still being collected.
The worst affected are Jammu, Srinagar and the Shopian Districts. As per the figures, 1428 cases of Jaundice, 57184 cases of Diarrhoea, 7904 cases of Hepatitis, 9391 cases of Dysentery and 26329 cases of Typhoid were reported in J&K in 2023.
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