India, April 23 -- Taking serious note of the death of 13 people ahead of the monsoon in 2025 due to consumption of contaminated water in the tribal-dominated Melghat region, the Bombay High Court recently directed the state government to initiate emergent steps to ensure that such incidents do not recur this year and potable water is supplied across the region.

With the monsoon approaching, lapses could worsen, a division bench of justices Ravindra V Ghuge and Hiten S Venegavkar warned on April 15, while hearing a bunch of public interest litigations (PILs) regarding infant and maternal deaths due to malnutrition in Melghat.

The judges were speaking after senior advocate Jugalkishore Gilda, appearing for some of the petitioners, flagge...