Wadala Girl Contracts Leptospirosis From Stagnant Construction Water

Doctors in Mumbai issued a health warning on 27 July 2026 regarding stagnant water at construction sites, which increases the risk of leptospirosis and other monsoon-related diseases. The advisory followed an incident in Wadala where a schoolgirl contracted leptospirosis after stepping into contaminated water at a work site in the neighbourhood.

Medical professionals warned that construction sites across Mumbai could inadvertently become breeding grounds for monsoon illnesses. Water accumulating at these development locations often stays stagnant and becomes contaminated with sewage and rat urine, creating significant public health risks during the rainy season.

The Wadala schoolgirl accidentally stepped into a puddle containing cement and water at a construction site that she crosses daily on her way to school. The child had a small cut on her leg, which became infected after coming into contact with the stagnant water.

Following the exposure, the girl was rushed to Cama and Albless Hospital for emergency treatment. Because her father works as a watchman at the hospital, she was brought to the medical facility in the nick of time to receive care for the infection.

Addressing the risks associated with such sites, Dr Tushar Palve, vice-dean at Cama and Albless Hospital, explained that even minor skin injuries combined with exposure to contaminated stagnant water around construction areas can potentially lead to dangerous infections during the monsoon.