Indore: A severe public health crisis has engulfed Bhagirathpura, a densely populated locality in Indore, after contaminated drinking water triggered a widespread outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting, resulting in multiple fatalities and hundreds of illnesses — a grim irony for a city long celebrated as India’s cleanest.

Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava on Friday said he has been informed of 10 deaths linked to the outbreak, though the health department has officially confirmed only four deaths so far. Residents, meanwhile, claim that 14 people, including a six-month-old infant, have died due to the crisis.

Outbreak and Cause

The city’s health officials say laboratory tests on water samples collected from the area confirmed severe contamination of the municipal drinking water supply. According to the Chief Medical and Health Officer, the contamination was caused by a leak in a main water supply pipeline, located near a police outpost where a toilet structure was built over the line. This breach allegedly allowed sewage or drainage water to mix with potable water, triggering the disease outbreak.

The affected pipeline serves residents of Bhagirathpura, a crowded neighbourhood home to thousands of people, many from economically weaker sections. Before the outbreak, locals reported discoloured, foul-smelling water — complaints that, according to residents and news reports, went unaddressed by authorities for weeks.

Health Impact and Response

More than 1,400 people have experienced symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, and fever, with hundreds requiring medical attention. Hospital wards in Indore have been treating patients, and temporary medical camps have been established in the locality. Authorities are prioritising patient care while trying to stabilise the water supply.

Despite differing figures on the death toll, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident, issuing a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government to explain the circumstances leading to the crisis and the steps taken in response.

The state government, facing mounting criticism, has pledged relief: ₹2 lakh in ex gratia compensation for families of the deceased and reimbursement of medical expenses for those affected. Senior officials have also visited the site, and inquiries have been ordered into administrative lapses that may have contributed to the tragedy.

Political and Civic Fallout

The crisis has sparked political disputes over accountability, with opposition parties accusing the ruling administration of negligence in maintaining critical infrastructure and failing to act on early warnings. Indore’s reputation as a model of sanitation and water safety — repeatedly ranked first in national cleanliness surveys — now faces intense scrutiny.

As investigations continue and relief efforts expand, the priority remains treating the ill and preventing further casualties in one of India’s most prominent urban centres.