The Madhya Pradesh government confirmed late on Thursday that nine people have died in Indore's Bhagirathpura area following a severe outbreak of illness linked to contaminated drinking water. The tragedy unfolded after the local water supply was allegedly mixed with sewage from a toilet at a police check post.
Outbreak Details and Official Confirmation
Residents began flooding hospitals across Indore from Monday, reporting severe symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting. Additional Chief Secretary of the urban development department, Sanjay Dubey, stated that while nine deaths have been reported, only four have been officially attributed to the contaminated water based on initial postmortem reports. Indore District Collector Shivam Verma confirmed that tests on water samples from Bhagirathpura found the supply to be "contaminated," though the specific bacteria type is yet to be identified.
Scale of the Crisis and Government Response
The health impact has been widespread. Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. Madhav Prasad Hasani reported that surveys covered 1,714 houses and health checks were conducted on 8,571 people. Of these, 338 patients were identified and treated on the spot. By Thursday, 272 patients had been hospitalised, with 71 discharged, 201 still under treatment, and 32 critically ill in ICUs.
In response, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for each victim's family. Authorities have halted the contaminated supply and are conducting rigorous testing. "Water supply was re-started on Thursday. But we did not allow residents to use it," Dubey said, adding that only after consecutive clear samples will consumption be permitted.
Political Reactions and Accountability
The incident has sparked political controversy and promises of action. Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava called for strict action against those who failed to follow instructions on water and sewerage works. Meanwhile, MP Congress president Jitu Patwari criticised the BJP-led state government, calling the deaths a result of "gross negligence and arrogance of power" and claiming the death toll was 13.
State Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, who met affected families, assured full government support for medical expenses. He mentioned that 60% of old pipelines have been replaced, with work ongoing on the remainder. The state now plans to implement a standard operating procedure (SOP) for random water testing across all local bodies to prevent future tragedies.
