“India’s Cleanest City” Faces Deadly Water Crisis: 7 Dead, Over 100 Hospitalized in Indore
High Court Orders Free Treatment as Sewage-Contaminated Pipeline Triggers Public Health Emergency in Bhagirathpura; Minister’s Controversial Remarks Spark Political Storm
Newsarc Bureau
INDORE — A severe public health crisis has engulfed Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, repeatedly awarded India’s cleanest city, after contaminated drinking water led to widespread illness and reported deaths in the Bhagirathpura area, with seven deaths confirmed by authorities. The tragedy has exposed critical infrastructure failures and triggered both judicial intervention and political controversy.
High Court Steps In
The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Indore Bench took stringent action following a Public Interest Litigation filed by Indore High Court Bar Association president Ritesh Inani, with a vacation bench comprising Justice Rajesh Kumar Gupta and Justice B.P. Sharma directing the state government to provide completely free medical treatment to all affected patients.
The court has demanded a detailed status report by January 2, 2026, specifying the exact number of deaths linked to the contamination, the number of patients currently undergoing treatment, steps taken to contain the outbreak, and long-term measures proposed to prevent recurrence.
Toilet Built Over Water Pipeline
Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav revealed that a leakage was found at a point in the main water supply pipeline in Bhagirathpura, above which a toilet has been constructed, and the drinking water was possibly contaminated due to this leakage.
The contamination, which began after residents complained of an unusual smell and taste in the municipal water supplied to the area on December 25, has resulted in over 110 patients remaining hospitalized, while around 36 have been discharged after treatment, with administrative surveys covering 2,703 households and approximately 12,000 residents.
Death Toll Dispute
While Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava confirmed seven deaths linked to severe vomiting and diarrhoea caused by the contaminated water, some reports have cited up to nine fatalities, while local residents have claimed the toll could be higher.
Minister’s Controversial Outburst
The crisis took a controversial turn when Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, whose constituency includes Bhagirathpura, allegedly lost his composure during a media interaction. Reports indicate the minister used objectionable language with journalists questioning him about the deaths, telling them not to ask “useless questions” (फोकट सवाल मत करो). The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties.
The Congress party has demanded Vijayvargiya’s resignation and accused the administration of attempting to conceal the actual death toll. MP Congress spokesperson Neelabh Shukla alleged that the administration was concealing the actual death toll to cover up its “fatal negligence” in the contaminated drinking water incident, stating the incident has put an ugly blot on the image of the country’s cleanest city.
Swift Government Action
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced financial assistance for the families of the deceased and ordered the suspension of three municipal officials pending an inquiry into the incident. The suspended officials include Zonal Officer Shaligram Sitole and Assistant Engineer Yogesh Joshi, while the services of PHE In-charge Sub-Engineer Shubham Srivastava were terminated.
A three-member inquiry committee, led by IAS officer Navjeevan Panwar with Superintending Engineer Pradeep Nigam and Dr Shailesh Rai, will investigate, with four ambulances, 14 doctors, 24 health workers, and specialists from MY Hospital deployed on-site.
Treatment and Relief Measures
Separate wards have been set up for the patients at the government-run Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital and the private Shri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, with private hospitals in Bhagirathpura informed that the state government will bear the entire medical treatment cost of all patients.
On-the-spot treatment was provided to 1,146 people exhibiting mild symptoms during door-to-door screening operations.
Questions Over “Cleanest City” Tag
The incident has raised serious questions about the gap between Indore’s multiple consecutive “cleanest city” awards in the Swachh Survekshan survey and ground-level infrastructure maintenance. Opposition leaders have termed it a wake-up call for municipalities across India to prioritize regular pipeline inspection and maintenance over cosmetic improvements.
The crisis continues to unfold as authorities race to stabilize the situation and restore safe water supply to the affected area.
