A woman died while over a dozen others were taken ill after reportedly consuming contaminated water in the Awadpuri colony of Amaniganj area, Faizabad city, on Sunday morning.

Kalpana Rastogi (55) died in the district hospital half-an-hour after she was admitted. Two others, Shakuntla and Vikram, were referred to Lucknow in serious condition, said a source in the district hospital.

“Soon after I got to know about the incident, a medical team was sent to the spot. Our experts tested the municipality-supplied water samples and found them to be contaminated, said Dr R A Rai Sharma, chief medical officer, Faizabad.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) D P Giri, who is also administrator of the municipal board, said that an inquiry has been ordered in the matter and water samples from the area have been sent to the state laboratory for testing.

A sanitary inspector has been suspended and the salary of the Water Works engineer withheld as part of departmental action against them. The executive officer of Faizabad municipal board will submit his inquiry report within two days, added the ADM.