Unsafe water crisis spreads beyond Bhagirathpura in Indore:72 of 85 wards report complaints, failed testing ignored warnings raise fears of citywide epidemic

The deadly outbreak of waterborne disease in Bhagirathpura, which has claimed at least 17 lives, has exposed a far deeper civic failure in Indore. What was initially projected as a localised lapse has now emerged as a citywide public health emergency, with official data confirming that complaints of contaminated drinking water have been reported from 72 of Indore’s 85 wards in just the last few days. Despite mounting deaths, hospitalisations, and rising public fear, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) and the administration have failed to contain the spread of contamination. Ground reality, civic data and resident testimonies suggest that large parts of India’s cleanest city are being forced to consume sewage-mixed water, raising fears that Bhagirathpura could be repeated elsewhere. Helpline data signals citywide spread The IMC’s 311 helpline has become the most telling indicator of the unfolding crisis. On January 3, 316 complaints related to contaminated drinking water were registered. Over the past few days, the total number of complaints has reached 1,167. Out of 85 wards, 72 wards have reported contaminated water, overwhelming the civic response mechanism. Officials have been unable to address complaints promptly, resulting in a mounting backlog. As many as 699 water-related complaints remain pending over the last seven days till January 3, according to helpline records. Bhagirathpura still the epicentre Bhagirathpura continues to record the highest number of complaints. After a surge in diarrhoea and vomiting cases, the health department officially declared the situation an epidemic on Sunday. Authorities have confirmed 17 deaths so far, while more than 50 new patients were reported in a single day, with over 20 admitted to ICUs. Even emergency tanker supplies have failed to restore public confidence, as residents question the quality and monitoring of the water being distributed. Complaint hotspots across the city The scale and spread of complaints point to systemic failure rather than isolated pipeline damage. Several wards have emerged as hotspots, including Ward 1 (74 complaints), Ward 4 (65), Ward 5 (64), Ward 7 (47) and Ward 9 (32). Complaints have been recorded from nearly every part of the city, underscoring the breadth of the crisis. Children falling ill, families forced to cope Doctors and residents say children are often the first to show symptoms, signalling the spread of waterborne disease. In many neighbourhoods, residents say they have stopped using tap water entirely, even for cooking. Drainage failures at the core Civic data shows that drainage failures lie at the heart of the contamination crisis. As of January 3, the IMC’s 311 helpline recorded 2,089 drainage-related complaints, compared to 1,121 drinking water complaints, indicating that unchecked sewage issues are directly affecting potable water safety. Overflowing sewer lines, leaking chambers and outdated brick-lined drainage structures have allowed sewage to seep into Narmada pipelines and borewells. In Bhagirathpura, testing detected cholera-causing bacteria in 35 borewells, directly linking the deaths to sewage contamination. Problem known for years, action delayed Records show that the contaminated water problem was known to the civic body for at least four years. A resolution was passed in the Mayor-in-Council meeting on November 25, 2022 (Agenda No. 106). Files were processed and signed in January and February 2023. The Water Works Department prepared a tender file for a new pipeline on November 12, 2024, but tenders were floated only on July 30, 2025. Although the agency was finalised, no work order was issued, and the project has remained stalled for five months, even as complaints surged and lives were lost. On December 30 and 31 alone, over 100 complaints were registered on the 311 app, 23 from Bhagirathpura (Zone 4). Nearly 60% were related to contaminated water and choked drainage, while around 300 complaints in December were linked to dirty water supply. Expert flags accountability failure Legal experts say the crisis reflects governance failure rather than a mere technical lapse. Water testing system in collapse Indore’s water quality monitoring system has effectively collapsed over the last five years. Earlier, 700–800 samples were tested daily. Today, only 100–150 samples are tested in an entire month, despite the Narmada water supply department having 22 zones, 35 officers, nearly 500 employees, and 105 water tanks. Mandatory chlorine testing before water distribution is reportedly not being followed at several locations. CAG warnings ignored, activists flag long-term negligence A Comptroller and Auditor General of India report (No. 3/2019) had already flagged serious deficiencies in the water supply systems of Indore and Bhopal. Between 2013 and 2018, over 5.45 lakh cases of waterborne diseases were reported, as 8.95 lakh families were not supplied with clean drinking water. Water loss during distribution was estimated at 65–70%, and mandatory water testing norms were repeatedly violated. The organisation has written to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, the state government and the Chief Secretary, demanding immediate corrective action and comprehensive reforms in drinking water systems. Fear of ‘Bhagirathpura Part II’ In areas such as Bhavana Nagar (wards 75 and 76), Sukhdev Nagar, Somani Nagar, Rangwasa, and Nipania, residents report sewage backflow into homes, foul-smelling tap water and open drainage pits filled with stagnant waste. Fear is growing, especially among families with children and elderly members. For a city celebrated nationally for cleanliness, Indore’s contaminated water crisis has exposed a stark disconnect between image and infrastructure. With 72 wards already affected, Bhagirathpura is no longer an isolated tragedy, it is a warning that the city ignored for years, and one that could still cost more lives if urgent, citywide action is not taken.