Indore water contamination: 20 new diarrhoea cases,142 hospitalised

As many as 142 people are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals following a diarrhoea outbreak caused by contaminated drinking water in Indore, even as 20 new cases were detected during a large-scale health screening exercise in Bhagirathpura, the epicentre of the infection, officials confirmed on Sunday.Health teams screened 9,416 people from 2,354 households as part of an ongoing survey in Bhagirathpura, where six deaths have been officially confirmed due to contaminated water. During the exercise, 20 fresh patients were identified and referred for treatment.According to officials, a total of 398 patients have been hospitalised since the outbreak began. Of them, 256 have been discharged after recovery, while 142 patients remain admitted, including 11 in intensive care units (ICUs). Authorities said the situation is currently under control.
Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Madhav Prasad Haasani said a team from the Kolkata-based National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (NIRBI), affiliated with the Indian Council of Medical Research, has reached Indore to investigate the outbreak. The expert team is providing technical support to the local health department to help contain the crisis.While the administration has confirmed six deaths, controversy has emerged over the toll. Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava earlier claimed that 10 people had died, while local residents alleged that 16 people, including a six-month-old infant, lost their lives in the outbreak.The issue has triggered strong political reactions. The Congress organised bell-ringing protests across Madhya Pradesh, demanding the resignation of senior minister Kailash Vijayvargiya over his use of the word “ghanta” while responding to questions about the crisis. Vijayvargiya, who holds the Urban Development and Housing portfolios, sparked outrage on December 31 after making the remark on camera.The Congress demanded a judicial inquiry into the deaths and sought Vijayvargiya’s removal, noting that Bhagirathpura falls within his Indore-1 assembly constituency. State Congress president Jitu Patwari warned of an agitation on January 11 if corrective measures were not taken. He also demanded the registration of a culpable homicide case against the mayor and concerned civic officials, alleging prolonged negligence despite complaints from residents over the past eight months regarding contaminated tap water.
Meanwhile,a SDM in neighbouring Dewas was suspended on Sunday for alleged negligence and irregularities in issuing an official order that referenced the minister’s controversial remark and Congress allegations during a protest-related deployment. Ujjain division revenue commissioner Ashish Singh ordered the suspension, citing serious lapses in official conduct.Renowned water conservationist and Magsaysay Award winner Rajendra Singh described the incident as a “system-created disaster,” attributing it to corruption and flawed infrastructure. He expressed concern that such a tragedy occurred in Indore, which has repeatedly been ranked as India’s cleanest city. Singh alleged that drinking water pipelines are often laid dangerously close to drainage lines to cut costs, leading to contamination.Government officials acknowledged that sewage overflow had entered water pipelines, triggering severe cases of vomiting and diarrhoea. Singh also flagged declining groundwater levels and questioned Indore’s long-term dependence on Narmada river water, which is transported from Jalud in Khargone district, about 80 km away. Civic officials said the municipal corporation spends nearly ₹25 crore every month on electricity alone to operate the water supply project.