No post-mortem in 35 suspected contaminated water deaths in Indore:Clear cause not recorded despite epidemic declaration

The case of 35 deaths allegedly linked to contaminated water in Bhagirathpura, Indore, remains unresolved. Over the past two days, the opposition has strongly cornered the government on the issue in the Assembly. On Friday, however, the Speaker rejected the opposition’s adjournment motion, stating that no further discussion would be allowed in the House. Despite this, the opposition has maintained an aggressive stance. Meanwhile, in this serious case, postmortem examination was conducted on only one of the 35 deceased, and Dainik Bhaskar has accessed the report. Shockingly, even this report does not mention the cause of death, as the forensic expert has not recorded any conclusive opinion. The situation has raised serious concerns, as 34 bodies were cremated without postmortem examination. With the only available postmortem report also failing to confirm the cause of death, questions remain about how the exact reasons behind such a large number of deaths will be determined. The case, which began nearly two months ago, continues to escalate. The postmortem report accessed is of a young man who was examined at MY Hospital on January 1. He had complained of vomiting and diarrhoea on December 31. His family first took him to Verma Hospital, where doctors advised immediate admission due to his critical condition. He was later shifted to MY Hospital, where he died during treatment. According to family members, he had gone to work in Bhagirathpura and fell ill after consuming contaminated water there. Sharp debate held in Assembly regarding postmortem When the opposition raised the post-mortem issue in the Assembly on Thursday, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that it is not possible to conduct post-mortems in all deaths. On the other hand, the opposition said that the government is giving compensation of 4 lakh rupees for normal deaths. In Bhagirathpura, two lakh rupees are being given. They should also be given 4 lakh rupees. Questions raised over lack of postmortems despite epidemic declaration Senior Advocate Neeraj Soni of the High Court said that during the hearing of public interest petitions in this case, the government itself described the situation as an epidemic while presenting its position. He questioned why postmortems were not conducted on the deceased in Bhagirathpura. He pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic, postmortems were conducted in related deaths. Similarly, since the Bhagirathpura deaths were sudden and abnormal, postmortem examinations should have been carried out to determine the exact cause. Compensation raises further contradictions Soni said that if postmortems were not conducted, the government could later claim that the deaths were natural and unrelated to contaminated water. At the same time, compensation is being provided to families, which raises serious contradictions. He questioned that if the government does not accept contaminated water as the cause of death, then on what basis is compensation being given. Conversely, if it was indeed an epidemic, postmortems should have been conducted for all 35 deceased. He described this situation as misleading and indicative of a possible cover-up. High Court rejects ‘verbal autopsy’ argument During the High Court hearing, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Hasani referred to a “verbal autopsy,” explaining that deaths were recorded based on information received from hospitals. However, the High Court rejected this argument, noting that deaths cannot be officially attributed without proper medical verification. This has further raised concerns about the seriousness of the investigation and the handling of the case. Responsibility of officials questioned Advocate Soni said that when the deaths first began, they were already being linked to contaminated water and were clearly not normal deaths. In such circumstances, it was the Collector’s responsibility to ensure postmortems were conducted. He added that since a high-power committee was later formed and deaths were increasing, the committee’s head should have issued clear instructions to conduct postmortems and properly investigate the matter. Why postmortems are necessary in suspicious deaths Legal experts say postmortems are conducted when deaths occur under suspicious or unnatural circumstances. This medical-legal procedure helps determine the exact cause of death and plays a crucial role in uncovering the truth. A postmortem can reveal whether death occurred due to illness, accident, suicide, murder, poisoning, electrocution, burning, drowning or other causes. It also helps establish the approximate time of death and the nature of injuries. Crucial evidence for legal investigation Postmortem reports are considered key legal evidence in court and help police guide further investigation. In many cases, they are decisive in determining whether a death was accidental, suicidal or homicidal. Family consent is not required in medico-legal cases. However, permission is typically taken in general or clinical postmortems conducted for medical purposes. Postmortem not required in certified natural deaths Postmortems are not required when death occurs due to a known illness and the treating doctor certifies the cause. However, in the Bhagirathpura case, several elderly victims were reportedly active and mobile before falling ill after consuming contaminated water. Their condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to organ failure and death. Next High Court hearing scheduled for March 5 The commission has issued a public notice inviting affected families, public representatives, doctors, hospitals, social organizations, contractors and government officials to come forward with any information, documents or evidence related to the case. The commission stated that the investigation is being conducted to ensure justice and public safety. The next hearing in the High Court is scheduled for March 5.