HC calls govt response ‘insensitive’ in Indore water contamination deaths:Court says, ‘Incident damaged city’s reputation across the country’; 38 fresh cases emerge

The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court is hearing cases related to deaths caused by contaminated drinking water in the Bhagirathpura area of Indore. During the hearing, the court said the incident has severely damaged the city’s reputation. Once regarded as one of India’s cleanest cities, Indore is now in the spotlight nationwide due to unsafe drinking water. The court stressed that contamination of drinking water is a matter of serious concern and requested to hear from the Chief Secretary, noting that the problem is not limited to just one part of the city. In fact, drinking water safety across Indore is under question. Death toll and hospitalisation So far, 17 people have died after consuming contaminated water. Currently, 110 patients are admitted to hospitals. A total of 421 patients have been hospitalised since the outbreak, out of which 311 have been discharged. Fifteen patients are receiving treatment in the ICU. Over the last 24 hours, 38 new cases of vomiting and diarrhea have been reported, including six patients referred to Arbind Hospital. Petitioners demand safe drinking water On December 31, 2025, the High Court directed the state government and the municipal corporation to ensure the supply of clean drinking water. A status report was filed in response. However, lawyers for the petitioners argued that the water currently being supplied in the affected areas remains contaminated and unfit for consumption. Other petitions highlighted that residents had repeatedly complained about water contamination earlier, but authorities failed to take action. Senior counsel noted that a proposal for new water pipelines was passed by the mayor in 2022, but the work was delayed due to lack of funds. Petitioners also pointed out that in 2017-18, 60 water samples from different areas of Indore were tested, with 59 found unfit for drinking. Despite this, no action was taken by the authorities. They urged that responsible officials should be held both civilly and criminally accountable and demanded the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the matter. Court directs govt for detailed report The High Court has ordered the state government and municipal corporation to submit a detailed reply along with a new status report. It clarified that under Article 21 of the Constitution, the right to life includes access to safe drinking water. The court categorised the issues into 7 areas: immediate relief for affected people, preventive and corrective measures, assigning responsibility, disciplinary action, compensation, directions to local bodies, and public awareness and transparency. Municipal actions and tanker supply The municipal corporation informed the court that water tankers were deployed to supply clean water after the issue surfaced, 36 tankers on December 30, 34 on December 31, and 33 on January 1. Photographs of the tanker supply were also presented in court. The status report noted disciplinary action: the Zone-4 officer and an assistant engineer were suspended, and a sub-engineer’s service was terminated. The High Court has asked the government to submit a detailed follow-up report. Collector and Commissioner visit affected areas On Tuesday morning, Indore Collector Shivam Verma and Municipal Commissioner Kshitij Singhal visited Bhagirathpura to inspect water supply, leakage repairs, and medicine distribution. Collector Verma said that ring surveys and water sampling continue under administrative supervision. Residents are being advised to boil and filter water before consumption. Commissioner Singhal reviewed water tanker operations and leakage repair work, directing authorities to maintain water quality. On Monday, 69-year-old retired policeman Omprakash Sharma, who had come from Dhar to meet his son, died, marking the 17th death due to contaminated water. He was admitted to a private hospital on January 1 with vomiting and diarrhea and was later moved to ICU on January 2. Despite ventilator support, he passed away on Sunday afternoon. Family members noted that he had only blood pressure issues, but his kidneys were damaged due to contaminated water, which led to his death.