Residents of Indore, a city in India’s Madhya Pradesh state, are mourning following a deadly outbreak linked to contaminated tap water. Over 200 people have been hospitalized, and authorities are investigating multiple deaths connected to the incident.
The tragedy began after a pipeline leak reportedly allowed sewage to mix with drinking water in the Bhagirathpura neighborhood.
Local families, many of whom are poor or lower-middle income, were exposed to contaminated water, leading to a severe outbreak of diarrhea and vomiting.
One victim, five-month-old Avyan, reportedly fell ill after being fed cow’s milk diluted with tap water. Despite boiling the mixture, the infant developed diarrhea on December 26 and died within three days. Avyan’s father, Sunil Sahu, attributes the death to the contaminated water.
The exact death toll remains uncertain. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav confirmed four deaths so far, while state minister Kailash Vijayvargiya cited reports of eight fatalities. Local journalists suggest the number may be closer to 14.
More than 40,000 residents of Bhagirathpura were screened by health authorities over the past week, with approximately 2,450 cases of vomiting and diarrhea identified.
Authorities have supplied water to affected households via tankers and advised residents not to use tap water until further notice.
The outbreak has sparked public outrage in Indore, often ranked India’s cleanest city, putting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the defensive.
District Magistrate Shivam Verma confirmed that the leak has been fixed, while one municipal officer was dismissed and two others suspended. Chief Minister Yadav vowed a full investigation, saying:
"It should not have happened in the first place. We have set up a committee to investigate the matter, and no stone will be left unturned to make sure that it does not happen again."
Residents shared harrowing accounts of the deaths. Sanjay Yadav, a tailor, said his 69-year-old mother died after vomiting on December 26, while his 11-month-old son remains unwell. Neighbor Sudha Pal reported the death of her 76-year-old father from severe diarrhea.
Others allege that multiple family members perished after consuming the contaminated tap water.
Local councillor Kamal Waghela (BJP) acknowledged that Indore’s sewage and water pipelines require significant repairs, while opposition leader Jitu Patwari (Congress) accused the government of mismanagement and underreporting fatalities.
The incident underscores the urgent need for infrastructure repairs and stricter monitoring of water safety, particularly in densely populated neighborhoods.
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