At least ten people have died, 272 have been hospitalised and over 2,800 in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area have fallen sick over the past 10 days due to consumption of contaminated water supplied by the municipal corporation. While the government is yet to confirm the exact death toll, residents say 14 people have died. The issue has courted a full-blown controversy, with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking a detailed report from Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary within two weeks.
Indore has notably secured the title of “India’s cleanest city” for an unprecedented eight consecutive years in the Swachh Survekshan survey, outperforming major contenders such as Navi Mumbai and Surat. However, the recent incident has raised serious questions about the city’s sanitation standards. This has led to suspension of two officials, and dismissal of one from their service, senior officials said on Wednesday (December 31, 2025).
Government monitoring water contamination situation, says Deputy CM
Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said the State government is closely monitoring the water contamination incident in Indore and has taken all necessary steps to ensure proper treatment for those affected. Mr. Shukla said Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is personally visiting hospitals, meeting patients and their families, and interacting with doctors to review the medical response.
