Indore water contamination case takes new turn:Court petition alleges potassium chloride tablets were added to overhead tank; seeks independent probe

A fresh development has emerged in the Indore’s Baghirathpura contaminated tap water deaths case. During a hearing in the High Court on Thursday, the inquiry commission submitted its preliminary report, while the court granted one month to present a detailed report. The next hearing has been scheduled for April 6. During the proceedings, significant arguments were presented, including allegations that potassium chloride tablets were allegedly added to an overhead water tank in the area without authorization. A plea has been filed seeking a fair and independent police investigation into the matter. Allegation of unauthorized chemical use Senior Advocate Ajay Bagadia submitted an interim application to place additional facts on record. He claimed that potassium chloride tablets were allegedly introduced into the Baghirathpura overhead tank without proper authorization, and that a neutral police probe is essential. The court was informed that Indore’s drinking water supply primarily comes from three sources — the Narmada Water Scheme, Yashwant Sagar Dam, and Bilawali. Water from these sources is treated and chlorinated at facilities including the Jalud Water Station before being supplied to approximately 108 to 110 overhead tanks across the city. From there, it is distributed to households through pipelines. According to submissions made during the hearing, water quality was found to be within standards and contamination-free up to the third-last tank in the distribution line from Jalud. However, the second-last and last tanks — which supply water to Baghirathpura — were found to contain contaminated water. It was also noted that five individuals — three from the Municipal Corporation and two from Ramky Industries — are stationed at the overhead facility in question. The application argued that this indicates prima facie that contamination may not have occurred at the primary treatment plant, but rather at the local storage or final distribution stage, specifically at the Baghirathpura overhead tank. Why were deaths reported only in Baghirathpura? The petition further questioned why illnesses and deaths were limited to Baghirathpura when a report by the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) had found total and fecal coliform bacteria in groundwater samples at multiple locations across the city. It argued that if bacteria were solely responsible, similar health impacts would have been reported in other areas as well. This raises suspicion that a specific local contamination or malfunction in the distribution system may have occurred in Baghirathpura. The court was told that the petitioner received reliable information suggesting that potassium chloride tablets had been added to the overhead tank in Ward No. 11 (Baghirathpura) prior to the incident. It was alleged that these tablets were purchased from a private shop outside official municipal procurement procedures and were added to the tank based on verbal instructions. While no individual has been named at this stage, the act has been described as a serious procedural irregularity. Potassium chloride not approved for drinking water treatment The application also stated that potassium chloride (KCl) is not an approved disinfectant under municipal water treatment protocols or IS 10500:2012 drinking water standards. It is neither a chlorination agent nor a substance known to eliminate pathogens. If such a chemical was indeed introduced into the overhead tank, it would constitute unauthorized interference with the municipal drinking water supply and pose a serious public health risk. The court was further informed that water was also being filled from five to six taps installed below the overhead tank. Several individuals who collected water from these taps reportedly fell ill. Five to six residents claimed that the water had a medicinal odor and appeared muddy in color. Recordings of their statements have been stored in a pen drive, which is expected to be submitted before the court during the next hearing.