A devastating water contamination crisis in Indore's Bhagirathpura area has claimed seven lives and left 162 patients undergoing treatment, exposing shocking failures in the city's water supply and sanitation infrastructure. The incident, triggered by a leaking pipeline situated below an improperly built toilet, has plunged the city into a public health emergency and sparked a major political and administrative blame game.
Source of Contamination and Official Response
Indore, which sources its water from the Narmada river via pipelines from Jalud in Khargone district, faced a critical breach in its main supply line. Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav confirmed that the contamination point was identified near the Bhagirathpura police check post. A newly constructed toilet was dumping waste into a pit instead of a septic tank. This pit was located directly above a joint in the main water pipeline, which was found to be loose, allowing sewage to seep into the drinking water supply.
The IMC has since repaired the faulty joint and is currently flushing the entire water pipeline. Authorities have advised residents to avoid using tap water until Friday. To mitigate the crisis, around 60–70 water tankers have been deployed to supply clean drinking water, while ASHA workers are conducting door-to-door surveys to identify new cases of illness.
Conflicting Death Toll and High-Level Visits
Confusion surrounds the exact number of fatalities from the incident. While city mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava stated that seven people had died, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, after visiting patients in multiple hospitals, put the official toll at four. The state's health department has officially recorded only three deaths so far.
"As of now, the number of deaths recorded is four. The government has a system of collecting records. We have initiated a probe and the final figure would be clear once the report is filed," CM Yadav said. He emotionally added, "But why should even one person die? The episode has left us hurt and saddened." The Chief Minister toured several hospitals including Verma Hospital, Beema Hospital, DNS, MY Hospital, and Shalby Hospital to assess the situation.
Legal Intervention and Demand for Accountability
The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the crisis. Hearing a public interest litigation, the court directed the municipal corporation and state government to ensure an immediate supply of clean drinking water to affected residents. It also mandated free treatment for all those suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. The court ordered both authorities to submit a detailed status report by January 2, which must include:
- The number of affected residents.
- Details of hospital admissions.
- A comprehensive report on the medical care being provided.
This tragic incident underscores profound lapses in urban planning, sanitation enforcement, and water safety protocols. It has raised serious questions about the accountability of the civic body and state authorities, with grieving families demanding answers for what appears to be a entirely preventable public health disaster.
