Negligence in pipeline replacement left 15 dead in Indore:File circulated among officials despite approval 3 years ago; work was supposed to finish in 10 months

The water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, Indore, which claimed 15 lives, was a problem in the making for years. The process to replace the old pipeline had begun three years ago, but delays at every administrative level, from approval to execution, exposed negligence by both officers and municipal leaders. The replacement work was planned in two phases, but the first phase remains incomplete even today. The second phase was initiated only after people began dying from contaminated water. Government takes action against officials Following the tragedy, the government removed Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav on Friday night. He has been transferred as Deputy Secretary in the Panchayat and Rural Development Department. Additional Commissioner Rohit Sisoniya and Executive Engineer Sanjeev Srivastava were suspended for their roles in the delayed pipeline replacement. Read this report… File stuck for months in first phase The Bhagirathpura water crisis was not new. Complaints about contaminated water had been consistently reported. Understanding the urgency, then Municipal Commissioner Pratibha Pal initiated the tender process to replace the pipeline. After this, the file began its long delay due to administrative sluggishness. This meant the file remained pending for nearly three months for signatures alone. Even after approval, the first phase of the work is still incomplete, raising questions about the system’s efficiency. Mayor Bhargav later explained that only one bidder, Malwa Engineers, had applied and their previous work was unsatisfactory, requiring additional scrutiny. Deaths prompt immediate action in second phase The second phase exposes the system’s delayed response. The file for the next phase was prepared on 12 November 2024, but no urgency was shown. During these months, dirty and foul-smelling water continued to flow in Bhagirathpura. Residents repeatedly complained, but no action was taken. Within 3 days, nine people died and hundreds fell ill due to contaminated water. Only after the deaths did the administration act. Technical causes of contamination Suspended Executive Engineer Sanjeev Srivastava explained that the pipeline was laid in 1998, making it 27 years old. Normally, pipelines last 30–35 years, and modern HDPE pipelines can last up to 100 years if undamaged. The problem worsened due to repeated excavations for roads, sewer lines, and utility work, which created holes in the old pipelines. Through these holes, drainage wastewater entered the drinking water lines, gradually contaminating the supply and making the water unsafe for consumption. Administrative notes reveal negligence Internal notesheets obtained by reporters indicate that officers and leaders were equally negligent. The file, which directly impacted public health, kept circulating between desks for months with little action. Political and administrative tensions The tragedy has also exposed tensions within the Municipal Corporation. On 1 January, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava reportedly expressed frustration to Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey, saying, Officers don’t listen. I cannot work in such a system. You can convey this to the Chief Minister. Area councilor Kamal Waghela blamed the delay on infrastructure collapse in recent years and said he had submitted repeated written complaints to the municipal corporation. Officials suspended Following the deaths and media scrutiny: Public health and safety impact The negligence in Bhagirathpura led to 15 deaths and hundreds falling ill, showing the consequences of delayed administrative action. The contrast between months of inaction and the 24-hour execution of the tender after deaths highlights the system’s failure in prioritizing human life over procedural delays.