A severe public health crisis has unfolded in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, following the contamination of drinking water with sewage, leading to multiple deaths and hundreds falling ill. The state government confirmed late on Thursday that nine fatalities have been reported from the Bhagirathpura area, though only four have been conclusively linked to the tainted water supply so far.
Outbreak and Official Response
The crisis began earlier this week when residents of Bhagirathpura started flooding hospitals across the city, complaining of severe diarrhoea and vomiting. The source was traced to the local drinking water supply, which had been contaminated with sewage from a toilet at a nearby police check post.
Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey, overseeing the urban development department, stated that while nine deaths were reported, post-mortem examination reports currently attribute only four directly to the contaminated water. Indore District Collector Shivam Verma confirmed that initial tests on water samples confirmed contamination, though the specific bacteria type is yet to be identified.
Scale of the Health Emergency
The medical response has been massive. Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. Madhav Prasad Hasani reported that health teams surveyed 1,714 houses and examined 8,571 people by Thursday. From this effort, 338 patients were identified and treated on the spot.
The hospitalization numbers paint a grim picture: 272 patients were admitted to hospitals, with 71 subsequently discharged. As of Thursday, 201 patients remained hospitalized, including 32 in intensive care units (ICUs). The sheer scale underscores the severity of the outbreak.
Compensation, Accountability, and Political Fallout
In response to the tragedy, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for each victim's family. Senior officials, including Dubey, held emergency meetings to chart a course of action, focusing on containing the situation and ensuring a safe water supply. Guidelines were established to allocate funds and cover all patient treatment costs.
However, the incident has sparked criticism and blame. Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava pointed to a failure in following instructions related to water and sewerage works, calling for strict action against those responsible. Meanwhile, MP Congress president Jitu Patwari launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led state government, calling the deaths a result of "gross negligence and arrogance of power." The Congress party claimed the death toll was as high as 13.
Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, who met affected families, assured full government support, promising to reimburse treatment expenses via cheques. He also noted that around 60% of old pipelines in the area have been replaced, with work ongoing on the remainder.
Long-term Measures and Current Status
Authorities have taken immediate corrective steps. Water supply to Bhagirathpura was restarted on Thursday after officials inspected the pipelines, but residents were prohibited from using it. Random water samples are being collected for testing on alternate days, and consumption will only be permitted after the samples are cleared.
Looking ahead, the state plans to implement broader safeguards. Dubey indicated that a standard operating procedure (SOP) will be introduced for random water sample collection in all local bodies across Madhya Pradesh, aiming to prevent a recurrence of such a devastating incident.
