Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Dec 31 : At least eight people have died and more than 100 others have been hospitalised after allegedly consuming contaminated drinking water in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area, triggering public outrage and a sharp political confrontation between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.
The deaths were reported between December 25 and December 30, after residents complained of an unusual taste and smell in the municipal water supply sourced from the Narmada river. A large number of residents subsequently reported symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration and severe weakness.
Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava confirmed that three people had died due to diarrhoea, though local residents claimed that five additional deaths had occurred, including four women. The state government has announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and assured that all medical expenses of those affected would be borne by the government.
Municipal authorities said a leakage was detected in the main water supply pipeline in Bhagirathpura, allegedly at a spot where a toilet had been constructed over the line. “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,” Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav said.
Mayor Bhargava said a tender to lay a new pipeline in the area had been issued months ago and called for accountability. “Why was there a delay in this work? An impartial inquiry should be conducted to ascertain the reasons for negligence,” he said.
The health department launched an extensive door-to-door survey, covering 2,703 households and examining around 12,000 people. On-the-spot primary treatment was provided to 1,146 patients with mild symptoms. A total of 111 patients with serious conditions were admitted to various hospitals, of whom 18 have been discharged so far.
Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani said drinking water samples from the locality have been collected and sent to laboratories for testing, with reports expected within 48 hours.
As the crisis unfolded, the Congress demanded that a case of culpable homicide be registered against the mayor and the municipal commissioner. State Congress president Jitu Patwari alleged that the contamination appeared far more serious than routine leakage issues. “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,” he said.
The BJP strongly rejected the allegations, accusing the opposition of politicising a tragedy. State BJP spokesperson Alok Dubey condemned Patwari’s remarks as insensitive and said all possible assistance was being provided to the victims.
Residents narrated harrowing accounts of sudden illness and death. Siddharth, whose father Nandlal Pal died during treatment, said he was hospitalised after severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Another resident, Jitendra Prajapat, said his sister died on the way to the hospital after falling ill. Local councillor Kamal Baghela said the water supplied on December 25 had an unusual smell, adding that the exact cause would be known only after test reports arrive.
Indore depends on water drawn from the Narmada river, brought through pipelines from Jalud in neighbouring Khargone district, about 80 km away. Authorities have assured that strict action will be taken against those found responsible for the contamination, even as the city awaits laboratory findings to determine the exact cause of the deadly outbreak.
