Patiala, March 24 -- A Parliamentary standing committee on water resources has highlighted a critical public health crisis in Punjab, reporting that 401 villages across six districts are struggling with drinking water contamination.

Toxic heavy metals were detected in many districts making Punjab the fourth worst-affected state in the country with chemical contamination of drinking water, after Tripura, Assam, and Rajasthan.

The findings are part of the Standing Committee on Water Resources (2025-26) report, under the ministry of jal shakti and department of drinking water and sanitation, tabled in the Lok Sabha on March 17 highlighting the growing threat of unsafe groundwater in Punjab. The 30-member committee was headed by BJP MP Raji...