Indore water crisis claims 10 lives, probe ordered:Administration confirms only 3 deaths, over 1,150 patients affected, 111 in hospitals; ₹2 lakh ex-gratia announced

The contaminated water crisis in Indore’s Bhagirathpura has escalated sharply, with local residents claiming that ten people have died due to diarrhoea and vomiting, even as the administration and health department have officially confirmed only three deaths so far. A massive health survey has found 1,146 patients affected, while over 150 people have been admitted to hospitals, triggering fear, anger and political confrontation in the area. CM Mohan Yadav reached Indore to meet the patients of the Bhagirathpura water crisis at Verma Nursing Home. Taking cognizance of the incident, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced an ex-gratia of Rs2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and directed that the entire cost of treatment of all patients will be borne by the state government. The toll linked to contaminated water in Indore continues to rise, with an elderly man succumbing to severe stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. The deceased has been identified as Jeevanlal Barede, whose death occurred on December 28. Family members said Barede lived near a police outpost and fell critically ill after consuming contaminated water. Senior BJP leader and Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya sparked controversy after losing his temper while responding to a media query regarding the contaminated water supply in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area. When asked why adequate arrangements for clean drinking water had still not been ensured in the affected locality, Vijayvargiya dismissed the question as “senseless” and said he had personally stayed in the area for four days to monitor the situation. As the reporter replied that he too had visited the spot to assess conditions on the ground, the minister reacted sharply and used derogatory language, retorting, “Ghanta hoke aaya,” a remark that was captured on camera. The exchange has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who said the focus should have remained on addressing public grievances amid an ongoing health crisis rather than targeting the press. Bhagirathpura has reported several cases of vomiting and diarrhoea linked to contaminated water, with multiple deaths reported over the past two days.
Action against Zonal Officer, assistant engineer The CM also ordered strict action against erring officials, following which zonal officer Shaligram Sitole and assistant engineer Yogesh Joshi were suspended, while PHE in-charge sub-engineer Shubham Shrivastava was removed from service with immediate effect. A three-member inquiry committee has been constituted to fix responsibility. Leak found beneath toilet, water supply suspended IMC officials said a leak was detected beneath a public toilet near a police outpost, raising strong suspicion that drainage water seeped into the drinking water pipeline. Acting on the directions of Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dileep Kumar Yadav, repair work was immediately launched. Yadav clarified that water supply to Bhagirathpura will remain suspended until flushing, chlorination and laboratory testing are completed. Water will be supplied only after lab reports are fully satisfactory. There will be no compromise with public health, the commissioner said. Scale of outbreak alarms administration According to officials, 2,703 houses were surveyed, covering around 12,000 people. Of these, 1,146 were found suffering from symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea, indicating that every second household has at least one affected member. At present, more than 150 patients are admitted across government and private hospitals, while several others are undergoing treatment at home. Health officials said over 30 patients are in serious condition. Fear has gripped the locality to such an extent that residents are hesitant to drink water at all. Although the civic body deployed water tankers, locals refused to use tanker water for drinking, saying they have lost faith in the municipal corporation, and are instead arranging RO water privately. Door-to-door medical response Health department teams have been deployed across 14 lanes of Bhagirathpura, carrying out door-to-door screening and treatment. Serious patients are being shifted to hospitals through ambulances. ASHA workers are distributing ORS packets, zinc tablets and chlorine tablets, and making public announcements urging residents to drink only boiled water, avoid outside food and cut fruits, and seek immediate medical care if symptoms appear. Inside hospitals, the situation remains grim. Doctors said many patients are experiencing persistent vomiting, forcing them to keep buckets beside their beds. Medical experts noted that, unlike routine gastro cases, several patients are responding slowly to treatment, and the possibility of cholera has not been ruled out, pending laboratory reports. Congress sharpens attack, PCC chief visits hospital The crisis triggered sharp political reactions, with Pradesh Congress Committee chief Jitu Patwari visiting Verma Hospital to meet patients affected by contaminated water. After enquiring about their condition, Patwari launched a strong attack on the BJP leadership. This is not just contaminated water, it is poisonous water, and it has already claimed three lives, he said. Patwari alleged that the municipal corporation has spent Rs 2,200 crore on water supply infrastructure, yet residents are being forced to consume unsafe water. There is a need to investigate the commission nexus between contractors and leaders. Those responsible for the loss of lives must face criminal cases, he said. He announced that the Indore Congress would lodge a complaint against the municipal commissioner and the mayor, and also targeted Urban Administration Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, asking, People have given you everything; why are they being made to drink dirty water? Patwari questioned the mayor’s absence during the crisis, described the deaths as deeply painful, praised the spirit of Indore’s residents for standing together in grief, and termed the alleged mixing of drainage water with the Narmada pipeline as a result of corruption. Inquiry committee to fix responsibility Collector Shivam Verma said the administration is maintaining round-the-clock monitoring and that a detailed probe has been initiated. The three-member committee, constituted under senior administrative supervision, will examine technical lapses, response delays and accountability. Officials said further clarity on the exact cause of contamination, the death toll and responsibility will emerge once laboratory reports are received, as Bhagirathpura continues to battle one of the city’s worst public health crises in recent years.