Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union minister Uma Bharti launched a sharp attack on the Madhya Pradesh government led by her own party on Friday. She condemned the deaths linked to polluted drinking water in Indore, labelling the incident a profound disgrace for the state.
A Scathing Critique from Within the Party
In a series of posts on social media platform X, Bharti expressed her outrage over the fatalities caused by contaminated water. She stated that these deaths had "disgraced our state, our government and our entire system." Significantly, she framed the crisis as a crucial leadership test for Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who took office recently.
Bharti pointedly contrasted Indore's celebrated status as the country's cleanest city with the current tragedy. She found it alarming that "such ugliness, filth and poisoned water" had led to loss of life and continued to afflict residents. Dismissing the state government's announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh for each deceased's family, she asserted, "The price of life is not Rs 2 lakh. Families remain immersed in grief for a lifetime."
Her demands were unequivocal: a public apology to the affected citizens and "maximum punishment" for all officials responsible, "from bottom to top." Tagging the BJP's central and state leadership, she wrote, "This is a testing time for Mr Mohan Yadav."
The Outbreak: Facts and Official Response
Bharti's remarks intensify scrutiny on a severe diarrhoea outbreak in Indore's Bhagirathpura area, which has emerged as the epicentre. While officials state that post-mortem reports directly link four deaths to the water contamination, the overall outbreak has claimed at least ten lives. The health impact is widespread, with more than 1,400 people reported ill.
Laboratory analysis confirmed that drinking water samples were contaminated. The cause was identified as a leak in a main supply pipeline, where sewage from a toilet allegedly seeped into the drinking water line near a police outpost.
In response, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced the compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and directed officials to provide free treatment to all affected individuals. The state administration has also stated it is developing a standard operating procedure for drinking water infrastructure across Madhya Pradesh to prevent future incidents.
Fallout and Ongoing Concerns
While repairs on the damaged pipeline have been completed and water supply restored, authorities have advised residents to boil water as a precautionary measure. Fresh samples have been sent for testing. The outbreak has left large sections of Bhagirathpura deserted, with hundreds still hospitalised across the city.
Uma Bharti, who served as the Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation between 2017 and 2019, has a long-standing association with water management issues. Her insider critique adds considerable political weight to the crisis, highlighting failures in public health governance despite the city's clean accolades. The incident raises serious questions about the maintenance of urban water infrastructure and emergency response protocols.
