Indore Hit By Water Contamination Crisis; 100+ Hospitalised, 8 Dead

Indore in Madhya Pradesh is facing a major health scare after contaminated drinking water in the Bhagirathpura area was linked to eight deaths and the hospitalisation of over 100 people between December 25 and 30.

Complaints Began After Christmas

The outbreak reportedly began on December 25, when residents noticed an unusual taste and smell in the municipal water supplied to their homes. Soon after, entire families started falling ill. Many complained of vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration, forcing several to seek urgent medical care. Locals alleged the contaminated water came through municipal taps supplying Narmada river water.

Victims and Personal Tragedies

Among the deceased was Nandlal Pal (80), who died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital, his son Siddharth said. Seema Prajapat (50) died on the way to the hospital, while Urmila Yadav (70) passed away during treatment on December 28. Several other elderly residents and children were also affected.

Officials Suspended, Government Announces Aid

In response to the incident, Zonal In-Charge Shaligram Sitole and Assistant Engineer Yogesh Joshi were suspended. Public Health Engineering (PHE) In-Charge Subnaitri Shubham Srivastava was also relieved of his duties.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over the deaths and announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased. The state government also said it would bear the medical expenses of those hospitalised.

Pipeline Leak Detected

Municipal authorities later detected a major fault in the water supply system. Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav said, “We found a leakage in the main water supply pipeline at a place in Bhagirathpura, over which a toilet has been constructed. Repair work is underway.”

Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava raised concerns over delays in infrastructure upgrades, saying, “A tender for laying a new water supply pipeline in the Bhagirathpura area had been issued months ago. Why was there a delay in this work? An impartial inquiry should be conducted to ascertain the reasons for negligence.”

Health Department’s Emergency Response

The health department conducted door-to-door surveys of 2,703 households and examined nearly 12,000 people. On-the-spot treatment was provided to 1,146 patients with mild symptoms. A total of 111 patients with serious conditions were admitted to hospitals, with 18 discharged so far.

Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani confirmed that drinking water samples from the area have been collected and sent to laboratories for testing.

Political Row Erupts

The Congress party demanded strict action, including a case of culpable homicide. State Congress president Jitu Patwari said, “If drainage water mixes with drinking water pipelines, people can suffer from vomiting, diarrhoea, and jaundice, but they do not die from it. It appears that some kind of poisonous substance had mixed into the drinking water pipeline, and this needs to be investigated.”

He added, “The BJP is in power in the Indore Municipal Corporation as well as at the state and the Centre. It is a matter of concern for the people of Indore what condition the city has come to under the BJP’s triple-engine government.”

State BJP spokesperson Alok Dubey condemned the remarks, accusing Patwari of “deliberate politics” and insensitivity during an ongoing crisis.

Investigation Ongoing

Indore depends on the Narmada river for its water supply, with pipelines running from Jalud in neighbouring Khargone district, about 80 km away. Authorities have assured residents that strict action will be taken against those found responsible, as investigations into the contamination continue.