Indore water pollution: Residents claim 8 deaths, officials confirm 3, over 100 hospitalized

Local residents have claimed that eight people have died in Indore due to vomiting and diarrhea after allegedly drinking contaminated water, although the administration has confirmed three deaths.

According to locals, eight people, including six women, lost their lives within a week after falling ill due to contaminated water in Bhagirathpura area.

A health department official said on Wednesday (December 31) that Nandlal Pal (70), Urmila Yadav (60) and Tara Kori (65) died of diarrhea in the area.

MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has expressed grief over the incident and announced financial assistance. Rs 2 lakh to the family of each deceased. He also said that the state government will bear the entire cost of treatment of all the patients.

An official said that following the instructions of the CM, a zonal officer of the Municipal Corporation and an assistant engineer in Bhagirathpura were suspended with immediate effect, while the services of a sub-engineer in-charge were terminated.

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The official said a three-member committee headed by an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer has been formed to investigate allegations of deaths due to water pollution.

Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav said a leak was found at one point in the main water supply pipeline in Bhagirathpura, over which a toilet has been constructed. He said that drinking water may have been contaminated due to this leakage.

MP Congress spokesperson Neelabh Shukla alleged that the administration was hiding the actual number of deaths to hide its “fatal negligence” in the contaminated drinking water incident.

He said, “The contaminated drinking water incident has put a bad stain on the image of Indore, the cleanest city of the country, but only cosmetic steps are being taken in the name of action.”

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Meanwhile, more than 100 people have been admitted to hospital. Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani said that following reports of diarrhea outbreak in Bhagirathpura, the health department surveyed 2,703 houses and screened around 12,000 people, providing first aid on the spot to 1,146 patients with mild symptoms.

He said 111 patients with relatively serious conditions were admitted to various hospitals, of which 18 were discharged after treatment.

“Patients said they suffered vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration after drinking the contaminated water,” Hassani said.