A tragic water contamination incident in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has resulted in multiple fatalities and widespread illness, casting a shadow over the city frequently awarded as India’s cleanest. The crisis emerged from a pipeline leak that allowed sewage to infiltrate drinking water supplies in the Bhagirathpura neighborhood.
The outbreak has claimed several lives, including five-month-old Avyan Sahu, who died just three days after consuming diluted cow’s milk prepared with contaminated tap water. His father, Sunil Sahu, recounted how the family had boiled the water-milk mixture believing it would be safe, only to witness their infant succumb to severe diarrhea.
Official reports present conflicting casualty figures, with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav confirming four deaths through postmortem examinations while local journalists estimate the toll接近 14. The scale of the outbreak is substantial, with health authorities identifying approximately 2,450 cases of vomiting and diarrhea among 40,000 screened residents.
Healthcare facilities in Indore are overwhelmed, with more than 200 patients currently hospitalized. The municipal corporation has responded by deploying water tankers to affected areas and advising residents to avoid tap water entirely until further notice.
The political ramifications are significant, with opposition Congress leader Jitu Patwari accusing the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misgovernance and deliberately obscuring the true death count. In damage control efforts, local authorities have dismissed one municipal officer and suspended two others while establishing an investigative committee to prevent future occurrences.
Residents report having complained about foul-smelling water for over two months prior to the outbreak, raising questions about the responsiveness of local governance in what is consistently ranked as India’s cleanest urban center.