A severe public health crisis has gripped the Bhagirathpura area of Indore, with the death toll from contaminated water rising to seven as of Wednesday. The incident has led to 162 patients undergoing treatment across 27 government and private hospitals in the city, with 26 reported to be in critical condition within ICUs.
Conflicting Reports and Official Response
Confusion initially clouded the exact number of fatalities. While City Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava informed the media about seven deaths, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, after visiting patients in various hospitals, stated the officially recorded number stood at four. "As of now, the number of deaths recorded is four," the CM said, adding that a final figure would be established after a complete probe. He emotionally questioned, "But why should even one person die? The episode has left us hurt and saddened."
In response to the tragedy, Chief Minister Yadav announced immediate administrative action. He directed the suspension of two senior Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) officials and the dismissal of a sub-engineer held responsible for the drinking water supply in the affected zone. IMC zonal officer Shaligram Sitole and assistant engineer Yogesh Joshi were suspended, while public health engineering department in-charge sub-engineer Shubham Shrivastava was dismissed from service, as confirmed by Indore collector Shivam Verma.
Scale of the Crisis and Relief Measures
The crisis began late Monday evening when residents started flooding hospitals with symptoms of illness. Investigations point to a leakage in a sewer line that allowed sewage to mix with the drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, an area housing approximately 15,000 people.
The government has launched a massive survey and relief operation. Close to 40,000 people have been examined, with 2,456 suspected of serious illnesses receiving primary treatment on the spot. The IMC is currently flushing the contaminated water pipeline and has advised residents to avoid using the water supply until Friday. As an alternative, the civic body is supplying drinking water through 60-70 tankers in the area.
CM Yadav announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each deceased and ordered free treatment for all affected individuals. He assigned Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey to remain in Indore to oversee the aftermath and plan further steps.
Probe and Preventive Actions
A three-member committee has been constituted to investigate the matter thoroughly. The committee, formed under the direction of IAS officer Navjeevan Panwar, includes superintending engineer Pradeep Nigam and MGM Medical College associate professor Dr. Shailesh Rai.
Addressing the root cause, CM Yadav stated, "Leakages in sewer lines and old water pipelines have taught us a lesson on how to avoid such incidents in future. Govt will not tolerate carelessness." He warned that further action would follow based on the probe committee's report.
On the ground, the health department and IMC are working in tandem. The IMC has deployed ANMs and Asha workers for door-to-door surveys to identify new patients. Furthermore, 21 awareness teams and 11 ambulances have been deployed, with doctors placed on 24x7 duty to manage the situation. Mayor Bhargava emphasized that the primary focus remains on ensuring people receive effective treatment and recover swiftly.
