The Northern Railway has failed to meet the one week deadline to respond to the National Human Rights Commission on the allegations of contaminated drinking water across its zone covering over 700 stations.

The commission issued a reminder on Thursday to Northern Railway General Manager. A case was registered suo motu on February 28 on the basis of a media report quoting Indian Railway’s internal enquiry confirming contamination of drinking water on the Northern Railway stations.

“The commission observed that the contents of the report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of right to health of millions of passengers,” a statement said. The water sourced from 800 borewells by the Northern Railway is supposed to be treated before reaching passengers. Samples were tested by the Railway’s Medical Department for levels of coliform bacteria, which causes many water-borne diseases.