Indore, often celebrated as India’s cleanest city, witnessed a devastating public health emergency after sewage-contaminated drinking water led to the deaths of at least four residents and hospitalised more than 149 people in Bhagirathpura.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav confirmed the tragedy, calling it a serious lapse in civic safety and assuring strict action against those responsible.
Residents began reporting vomiting, stomach infections, and dehydration after consuming water supplied through municipal pipelines. The outbreak quickly overwhelmed local hospitals as dozens of people, including children and elderly residents, were rushed for urgent treatment.
How Sewage Entered the Drinking Water Supply
Preliminary investigations revealed that a main drinking water pipeline passed beneath a toilet structure. A leak in the pipeline allowed sewage to mix with the potable water, contaminating the supply sent to hundreds of homes.
The contamination remained unnoticed until residents fell seriously ill, triggering panic across the neighbourhood.
Municipal authorities have since shut down the affected pipeline and begun repair work to prevent further exposure.
Officials Suspended, Engineer Removed
The state government took immediate disciplinary action following the incident.
- Deputy Engineer Shubham Srivastava was removed from service
- Zonal Officer Shaligram Shitole was suspended
- Assistant Engineer Yogesh Joshi was also suspended
Authorities stated that negligence in pipeline monitoring and maintenance led to the crisis.
Government Announces Free Treatment and Compensation
State minister Kailash Vijayvargiya announced that all affected patients would receive free medical treatment at government hospitals.
He also confirmed that families of the deceased would be given ₹2 lakh compensation.
“We are fully focused on saving lives. Five ambulances have been deployed and the number of patients has started decreasing,” Vijayvargiya said.
Emergency Measures Rolled Out Across Bhagirathpura
To ensure safe drinking water, the administration has launched a large-scale relief operation:
- 50 water tankers deployed
- Narmada water supply arranged
- Chlorine tablets distributed to every household
- Residents advised to boil water before use
Officials said the situation should stabilise within the next 48 hours.
Victims Identified, More Under Investigation
The four confirmed victims have been identified as:
- Nandlal (70)
- Urmila Yadav (60)
- Tara Kori (65)
- Manjula (74)
Meanwhile, authorities are investigating the deaths of five others, including a five-month-old infant, to determine whether they are also linked to the contaminated water.
A Wake-Up Call for Urban Infrastructure
The Indore water contamination tragedy has raised serious questions about the safety of urban water infrastructure. Despite the city’s reputation for cleanliness, the incident has exposed deep flaws in pipeline monitoring and maintenance.
The state government has ordered a citywide inspection of water pipelines to prevent similar disasters.