Indore water contamination: Residents claim 8 deaths; authorities confirm three

Indore: Local residents have claimed that eight people have died due to vomiting and diarrhoea after allegedly consuming contaminated water in Indore, though the administration has confirmed three deaths.

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

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

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

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

The official said a three-member committee headed by an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer has been constituted to probe the allegations of deaths caused by water contamination.

Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav said a leakage was found at a point in the main water supply pipeline in Bhagirathpura, above which a toilet has been constructed. He said the drinking water was possibly contaminated due to this leakage.

MP Congress spokesperson Neelabh Shukla alleged that the administration was concealing the actual death toll to cover up its “fatal negligence” in the contaminated drinking water incident.

“The contaminated drinking water incident has put an ugly blot on the image of the country’s cleanest city, Indore, but only cosmetic steps are being taken in the name of action,” he added.