August M
A public health emergency has exposed deep cracks behind a polished civic image, raising questions about safety, oversight and accountability. What unfolded has triggered political blame, official suspensions and renewed scrutiny of water management across India.
Authorities are now racing to contain the fallout as anger spreads among residents.
Outbreak unfolds
According to The Guardian, at least 10 people have died and more than 270 have been hospitalised after drinking water was contaminated with sewage in Indore, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
Indore’s mayor, Pushyamitra Bhargava, said the deaths were linked to a diarrhoea outbreak in the Bhagirathpura area. “I have received information about 10 deaths due to a diarrhoea outbreak caused by contaminated water,” he said, adding that sewage had mixed “in the main line leading from the water tank”.
Local media reported a higher death toll, but officials have not confirmed those figures. At least 32 patients remain in intensive care.
Warnings ignored
Residents of the densely populated, low-income neighbourhood said they had complained for months about foul-smelling tap water. Despite repeated warnings, no action was taken, they said.
People began arriving at hospitals earlier this week with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea and high fever. Health officials later confirmed that tests found “abnormal bacteria generally found in sewer water comprising human waste”.
State authorities said health teams identified 2,456 suspected cases during door-to-door checks and provided first aid on site.
Source identified
Officials believe a public toilet built above a drinking water pipeline allowed sewage to leak into the supply. The structure reportedly lacked a septic tank.
“Prima facie, this case falls under gross dereliction of duty,” said municipal councillor Kamal Waghela. Several city officials have since been suspended pending an investigation.
The state government said new rules would be introduced. “No stone will be left unturned to make sure it does not happen again,” said chief minister Mohan Yadav.
Human cost and fallout
Among the dead was a five-month-old baby who had been bottle-fed using tap water. “No one told us the water was contaminated,” his father, Sunil Sahu, said. “We filtered it. The same water was flowing throughout the neighbourhood. There was no warning.”
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused the state government of negligence, saying “clean water isn’t a favour – it’s a right to life”.
The Hindu newspaper called the incident “a wake-up call for India’s water management”, warning that weak enforcement of environmental rules is putting lives at risk.
Sources: The Guardian
