Hyderabad, April 8: City police raided an illegal operation in Amberpet on Wednesday, busting a large-scale racket that supplied contaminated water mixed with sewage and chemicals to residential areas, hotels, and small vendors.
Acting on a tip-off, Amberpet police team swooped down on a godown in RTC ‘X’ Roads area around 6 a.m. They seized 20,000 litres of adulterated water stored in dirty plastic drums, along with mixing equipment, pipes, and fake labels mimicking popular brands. Three men—identified as Ravi Kumar (35), Srinivas (42), and Raju (28)—were arrested on the spot.
The operation mixed underground bore water with sewage water from nearby drains and added bleaching powder and colours to mimic purified mineral water. Suppliers distributed it through 20-litre cans to over 50 locations daily, including paying guest accommodations, hostels, and roadside eateries.
“This is health terrorism. People were drinking sewage water thinking it was safe,” said Amberpet Deputy Commissioner of Police Md. Abdul Mutalif. He added that the water tested positive for E.coli bacteria and high chemical content in preliminary checks.
Residents expressed outrage after the bust. “We’ve been buying this for months—my kids fell sick repeatedly with stomach infections,” said local shopkeeper Lakshmi Devi, who unknowingly stocked the tainted cans.
The racket operated for over eight months, generating ₹15 lakh monthly profit. Police suspect supply chains linked to other city areas and are questioning the accused for further leads. A fourth suspect remains at large.
Health experts warned of risks like cholera, typhoid, and kidney damage from such adulteration. “Contaminated water causes 80% of Hyderabad’s summer diarrhoea cases,” noted Dr. Srinivas Raju, a gastroenterologist at Gandhi Hospital.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) teams joined the investigation, sealing two borewells used in the mixing process. Task Force police formed a special team to track similar operations across the city.
Samples have gone to the state forensic lab for detailed analysis. The accused face charges under IPC sections for cheating, public health endangerment, and food safety violations.
This Amberpet bust exposes Hyderabad’s hidden water mafia preying on urban thirst, underscoring the urgent need for stricter quality checks to protect millions relying on bottled water daily.
