In ‘Cleanest City’ Indore, Water Contamination Kills 10, Six-Month-Old Among Victims

Indore: The death toll in Indore’s water contamination tragedy has risen to 10, even as more than 2,000 people have fallen ill after consuming polluted drinking water supplied through the municipal pipeline in the Bhagirathpura area. The incident has exposed serious lapses by civic authorities and the Madhya Pradesh government in ensuring safe water supply.

Among the deceased is a six-month-old child who died on Wednesday, along with six women. Over the past one week, more than 100 residents of Bhagirathpura have been admitted to hospitals after suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea. While the government is yet to officially declare the total number of deaths, a senior district administration official confirmed that the figure has crossed 10.

Following public outrage, action was taken against three officials of the Indore Municipal Corporation. An in-charge sub-engineer of the Public Health Engineering Department was dismissed from service, while a zonal officer and an assistant engineer were suspended. The officials were responsible for monitoring water supply in the area but failed to detect leakages that led to contamination.

According to a statement from the office of the Chief Medical and Health Officer, nearly 8,000 houses have been surveyed so far, covering close to 40,000 people. Around 2,456 suspected patients were identified and given first aid at their homes. A total of 212 people were hospitalised, of whom 50 have been discharged. At present, 162 patients remain under treatment, including 26 in intensive care units.

A three-member committee headed by an IAS officer has been constituted to probe the incident. The panel will also look into delays in implementing a project for laying a new water supply line in the area, for which a tender was issued months ago but work did not begin.

Senior ministers, including the Chief Minister, visited hospitals after the situation worsened, though residents allege that timely intervention could have prevented the tragedy. The municipal commissioner admitted that sewage from a toilet had leaked into the main water supply line. While the damaged sections have been repaired, authorities said water supply would resume only after quality tests are completed. More than 100 water tankers have been deployed to meet the immediate needs of residents.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has stepped in and sought a status report from the government by January 2. The court also directed that all patients must be provided free treatment after complaints that private hospitals were demanding money before admitting patients.

The incident has triggered widespread protests, with residents accusing the municipal corporation and the state government of negligence. The anger has been sharper as the tragedy unfolded in Indore, a city repeatedly projected by the BJP government as the ‘cleanest city’ in the country. Opposition parties have also demanded accountability, saying the crisis reflects systemic failure and disregard for public health.

As the number of affected people continues to remain high, residents fear more casualties unless strict action is taken and long-pending infrastructure issues are addressed without delay.