In a swift response to a recent contamination outbreak, health and environmental authorities in Indore launched a major sampling drive on Saturday. Teams from the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) and the state's food safety department collected a total of 70 water samples from the affected Bhagirathpura area and surrounding localities.
Multi-Agency Effort to Map the Crisis
The operation saw seven teams fan out across the neighbourhoods to gather evidence. Officials from the MPPCB were responsible for collecting 50 samples from key locations including Bhagirathpura itself, Kulkarni Ka Bhatta, and Shivshakti Nagar. Their collection strategy was comprehensive, targeting multiple potential sources to understand the scale of the problem.
"We collected samples from multiple sources, including household taps and borewells, to map the extent of the pollution," explained a PCB official. The samples included water drawn from the Narmada supply lines, which feed the city, as well as from local tubewells, indicating a thorough investigation into both municipal and groundwater sources.
Detailed Laboratory Analysis Underway
All collected samples have been dispatched for rigorous laboratory testing. The analysis will focus on critical parameters to confirm the nature and cause of the contamination. Microbiological testing will identify harmful bacteria, while checks for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) will provide evidence of organic pollutants, often indicative of sewage mixing into the water supply.
The official added that these results are crucial to confirm the suspected presence of sewage and pinpoint the exact breach in the system.
Food Safety Department Joins the Probe
Acting in parallel, the food safety department gathered an additional 20 samples. Their focus was more directly linked to public health reports. Samples were taken from shops and households where family members had reportedly fallen ill. To eliminate any risk of commercial spread, water used in local food joints and eateries was also secured for testing.
This dual-pronged approach ensures that the investigation covers both the environmental source of the contamination and its direct impact on community health through consumption. The findings from these tests are expected to guide the next steps for containment and remediation in the affected areas of Indore.
