Special Correspondent
Pune: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule criticized the state government and civic authorities on Thursday for their failure to provide clean drinking water to citizens. Sule visited areas in Pune affected by Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), inspecting local water sources and speaking with residents impacted by the rare neurological disorder. Her visit coincided with growing concerns over the outbreak, which has been linked to contaminated drinking water in certain parts of the city.
“I visited the well and the surrounding area to assess the current GBS situation. People here are living in constant fear,” Sule remarked. She referred to the GBS situation as an “outbreak” and emphasized the need for comprehensive efforts to control it. Sule shared that she has repeatedly written to both the civic body and the state government about these areas, which were recently incorporated into the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
Despite the lack of basic infrastructure such as sewage treatment plants (STPs), Sule claimed that permissions for new buildings and projects were still being granted. “The current situation is a result of urban planning failures. As we await lab reports, it is clear that pollution—whether water or air—is contributing to the rise in diseases. Immediate action is necessary,” she added.
Sule called for a scientific investigation into the prevalence of GBS and urged the government to address pollution in rivers and dams. She stated that while her party is in opposition, they are willing to cooperate with the government on these urgent issues. Sule also demanded that the government cover the medical expenses of GBS patients, attributing the outbreak to poor management.
After her visit, Sule took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the ruling Mahayuti government for its inability to provide clean drinking water. Expressing her concerns about the increasing number of cases, she wrote, “An outbreak of GBS disease has been detected between Rajaram Bridge and Khadakwasla in Pune. Many people are sick, and some are in critical condition. It seems that the disease is spreading due to contaminated water. It’s regrettable that the government is failing to ensure clean drinking water for the public.”
She urged the guardian minister, Pune municipal commissioner, and Pune district collector to take immediate action to provide safe drinking water to the citizens.
According to a report from the Maharashtra Public Health Department released on Wednesday, the total number of suspected GBS cases in Pune and other districts of the state has reached 127, with 72 confirmed cases. The breakdown of cases includes: 23 in PMC limits, 73 in newly-added PMC villages, 13 in PCMC, 9 in rural Pune, and 9 in other districts. The report also confirmed two suspected deaths related to GBS, with 20 patients currently on ventilator support, highlighting the severity of the outbreak.
Doctors and health officials suspect that contaminated water may be the source of the outbreak. GBS is often triggered by bacterial and viral infections that weaken the immune system, making individuals vulnerable to the condition. In response, the Maharashtra government has deployed health teams to investigate the source of the contamination and contain the outbreak. Health officials are conducting water quality tests and advising residents to boil water before use to minimize the risk of infection.
