Bhagirathpura was once declared Indore’s cleanest ward:Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava honoured Councillor Waghela in 2023; now 20 die from contaminated water

Bhagirathpura in Indore, once declared the cleanest ward in 2023, has turned into the site of a major tragedy. Twenty people died and three are seriously ill after drinking contaminated water. The disaster has raised serious questions about how such a crisis could happen in a ward praised for cleanliness and development. Mayor had praised Bhagirathpura publicly In August 2025, during the three-year completion ceremony of his tenure, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava held a groundbreaking ceremony in Bhagirathpura. He publicly praised the ward as the best and cleanest in Indore. Councilor Kamal Waghela, who represents Ward-11, was present on stage. The Mayor even advised other councilors to visit Bhagirathpura to see the development work. Councilor received appreciation and awards Councilor Kamal Waghela was honoured with a letter of appreciation from the Mayor. He was also given the Ideal Ward Award for his work. Bhargava personally praised Waghela, saying he is a disciplined and capable leader who follows up on development projects strictly when needed. Crores spent on roads, water and drainage The Mayor had said that 24 roads were built in three years in Bhagirathpura, each costing around Rs 10 lakh. This totals Rs 2.40 crore. Similarly, nearly the same amount was spent on water and drainage lines. In total, development works worth about Rs 10 crore were completed in three years, averaging Rs 3 crore annually. Contaminated water supply known for two years The water supply in Bhagirathpura had been contaminated for two years. On February 29, 2024, Councilor Kamal Waghela wrote a letter to Mayor Bhargava reporting that residents were suffering from typhoid, jaundice, and fever due to dirty water. A 23-year-old girl had already died. Sources said the Mayor had inspected the area two days before the letter. He found that the Narmada and drainage lines were close, and the water pipelines were damaged in several places. It was clear two years ago that sewage-contaminated water was being supplied. Opposition raises questions over Mayor’s priorities Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar criticised Mayor Bhargava in the assembly over the deaths. He questioned why a note-counting machine was kept in the Mayor’s office. Singhar asked if it was for cash dealings with contractors or for some other reason. Mayor blames municipal officials After the tragedy, Mayor Bhargava expressed anger at the Municipal Corporation officials. In a meeting at Residency Kothi with Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, he said that the MIC and responsible officials do not listen to him. The Mayor added that the system prevents him from working effectively. Questions remain Despite Bhagirathpura being declared the cleanest ward and Councilor Waghela being praised and awarded, the lives of residents were lost due to long-standing negligence. Officials, the Mayor, and councilors are now under scrutiny for failing to prevent this disaster.