3 dead, over 100 hospitalised after drinking 'contaminated water' in Indore

Indore: At least three persons have died and more than 100 others hospitalised in Madhya Pradesh's Indore over the last few days allegedly after drinking contaminated water in Bhagirathpura area of the city, its mayor said on Tuesday.

Expressing grief over the deaths, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the state government will provide a financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and bear the medical expenses of the affected persons.

Local residents claimed that five persons, including four women, have died so far after falling ill due to the consumption of contaminated water.

According to the local councillor, the residents of Bhagirathpura complained that the water supplied on December 25 had an unusual smell and people might have fallen ill after consuming it.

Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav said a leakage has been detected in the main water supply pipeline at a place in Bhagirathpura, over which a toilet was found constructed.

Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani said that after reports of a diarrhoea outbreak in Bhagirathpura, the health department surveyed 2,703 households and examined around 12,000 people, providing on-the-spot primary treatment to 1,146 patients with mild symptoms.

He said that 111 patients with relatively serious conditions were admitted to different hospitals, of whom 18 were discharged after treatment.

"The patients said they suffered from vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration after drinking contaminated water," Hasani said.

According to him, several medical teams, along with four ambulances, have been deployed in the Bhagirathpura area to tackle the outbreak. Samples of drinking water from the locality have been collected and sent to laboratories for testing.

Talking to reporters, Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said he received information about the deaths of three persons due to diarrhoea in Bhagirathpura area, but did not disclose their identity.

While the water sample test reports are awaited, prima facie it appears that drainage water might have gotten mixed with drinking water supply lines, contaminating the water. Strict action will be taken against the officials for negligence, he added.

The Congress demanded that a case of culpable homicide be filed against Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava and Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav over the deaths due to contaminated water.

State Congress president Jitu Patwari visited a private hospital in the city and enquired about the health of people who fell ill after drinking contaminated water.

Addressing reporters, Patwari said, "If drainage water mixes with drinking water pipelines, people can suffer from vomiting, diarrhoea and jaundice, but they do not die from it. It appears that some kind of poisonous substance had mixed into the drinking water pipeline and this needs to be investigated." Holding the mayor and the municipal commissioner responsible for the incident, he said a culpable homicide case should be registered against both of them.

Targeting the ruling BJP, he said the party has been in power in the Indore Municipal Corporation as well as at the state and the Centre. "It is a matter of concern for the people of Indore what condition the city has come to under the BJP's triple-engine government," he said.

However, state BJP spokesperson Alok Dubey condemned Patwari's statement, saying he was being insensitive and engaging in "deliberate politics" over an unfortunate incident.

Angry residents of Bhagirathpura alleged that they and their family members fell ill after consuming contaminated Narmada river water supplied to homes through municipal tap connections. They claimed the civic body ignored repeated complaints about foul water supply.

Local councillor Kamal Baghela said residents complained that the water supplied on Thursday (December 25) had an unusual smell. "People may have fallen ill after consuming this water. Only laboratory reports will reveal how the water got contaminated," he said.

Baghela said Nandlal Pal (80), who was admitted to a private hospital after suffering from diarrhoea, died during treatment.

Pal's son Siddharth said his father was hospitalised on December 28 due to vomiting and diarrhoea allegedly as a result of contaminated water.

"My father died on Tuesday morning," he said.

Bhagirathpura resident Jitendra Prajapat said his elder sister Seema Prajapat (50) died on Monday after suffering from diarrhoea allegedly caused by contaminated water.

"My sister suddenly started suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea and we did not even get a chance to manage the situation. She died on the way to the hospital," he said.

Prajapat said the water supplied in the area over the past few days tasted "bitter" while drinking, raising suspicion that excess water purification chemicals may have altered its taste.

Another resident, Chandrakala Yadav, said her mother-in-law Urmila Yadav (70) developed diarrhoea on December 27 after allegedly drinking contaminated water and died during treatment on December 28.

Manjula Digambar Vadhe (74) and Uma Kori (29), both residents of Bhagirathpura, died on Tuesday. Their family members said the two women died after suffering from diarrhoea allegedly caused by contaminated water.

Uma Kori's husband Bihari Kori said a detailed probe into the incident was needed to prevent such tragedies in future.

Indore depends on the Narmada river for its water needs, with water brought to the city through a municipal pipeline from Jalud in neighbouring Khargone district, about 80 km away.