Bhagirathpura water crisis forces family to move:Disturbed by contamination and illness, migrant family returns to Sagar 9 months after relocating to Indore

The contaminated water crisis in Bhagirathpura is no longer confined to hospitals and official reviews. It is now forcing families to make painful choices. Distressed by fear, illness and uncertainty, one migrant family has decided to leave Indore and return to their hometown in Sagar, just nine months after shifting here for work.
A move for livelihood turns into a nightmare
The family had moved to Indore hoping to secure steady employment and improve their living conditions. Surviving on a modest income, they rented a small house in Bhagirathpura and tried to settle into city life. But the contaminated water tragedy changed everything, replacing routine struggles with a daily fear of falling sick. Illness that shattered a sense of safety The crisis hit the family directly when contaminated water left members severely ill. Their young child suffered acute vomiting and diarrhoea and had to be hospitalised for several days. Watching the child’s condition deteriorate inside the hospital deeply unsettled the entire family. What was expected to be a temporary health scare turned into lasting psychological trauma.
Fear replaces routine life
After the incident, even basic activities became a source of anxiety. Tap water was no longer trusted, and the family felt unsafe continuing their daily lives in the area. With no clarity on when the water supply would truly be safe, the sense of insecurity kept growing. Decision to return home With two small children and an elderly family member to care for, the family finally decided to leave Indore and return to Sagar. “We came here to earn and survive, but living in fear is not life,” Roshani Kori said, explaining the decision to go back despite uncertain prospects back home. A crisis beyond numbers The family’s departure highlights a quieter but serious fallout of the Bhagirathpura water crisis. Beyond official data on illnesses and deaths, the tragedy is pushing migrant families out of the city altogether. For many, the loss is not only of health but of stability and hope, turning Indore from a destination of opportunity into a place they no longer feel safe calling home.