Contaminated Municipal Water Kills 7 in Indore, Over 100 Hospitalised

At least seven people have died and over 100 others have been hospitalised in Indore after allegedly consuming contaminated municipal drinking water in the Bhagirathpura area, triggering a serious public health crisis in the city.

Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava confirmed the deaths, stating that while three fatalities have been officially verified, information has been received about four additional deaths linked to the outbreak. He accepted responsibility and assured strict action against officials found negligent, including senior civic authorities.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh for each bereaved family. The state government will also bear all medical expenses of those affected. To manage the surge in patients, the city administration has arranged 100 additional hospital beds for residents of Bhagirathpura.

Health officials said most patients reported symptoms of severe diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration after consuming tap water. Surveys were conducted across more than 2,700 households, covering nearly 12,000 residents. While over 1,100 people with mild symptoms received primary treatment, 111 patients with serious conditions were admitted to hospitals, with 18 discharged after recovery.

Medical teams and ambulances have been deployed in the affected locality, and water samples have been collected for laboratory testing. Preliminary assessments suggest that drainage or sewage water may have mixed with drinking water pipelines, contaminating the supply. However, authorities said final conclusions will depend on test results.

Municipal officials reported a leakage in a main water supply pipeline in Bhagirathpura, where a toilet structure had reportedly been constructed above the pipe. This is being investigated as a potential source of contamination. Residents had earlier complained of foul-smelling and bitter-tasting water supplied around December 25, alleging repeated complaints were ignored.

The incident has sparked political reactions, with opposition parties demanding accountability and a comprehensive investigation. Civic and state authorities have maintained that priority is being given to medical care, containment of the outbreak and identifying the precise cause of contamination.

As laboratory reports are awaited, health and municipal teams remain on the ground to prevent further spread and ensure timely treatment for residents affected by waterborne illness.