The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the state government while hearing a batch of petitions related to the water contamination crisis in Indore, calling the official response insensitive and deeply concerning. The court observed that the incident has severely dented Indore’s reputation as India’s cleanest city.
Hearing multiple pleas linked to deaths and illnesses caused by contaminated drinking water in the Bhagirathpura area, the High Court remarked that it was shocking for such a public health disaster to occur in a city that consistently tops national cleanliness rankings. The judges noted that the situation raised serious questions of accountability and said the court would examine whether the matter involved criminal negligence or civil liability.
The court also expressed strong displeasure over the reports submitted by the Municipal Corporation and district administration, particularly regarding conflicting data on fatalities. Calling the incident “extremely serious,” the bench directed the Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary to appear before the court via video conferencing on January 15 to explain the government’s handling of the crisis.
Meanwhile, the health situation in Bhagirathpura remains alarming. On Monday alone, 38 new cases of vomiting and diarrhoea linked to contaminated water were reported at the local primary health centre. According to health officials, seven deaths have been officially recorded so far, though residents of the area claim the toll is significantly higher.
Authorities confirmed that six critically ill patients have been referred to higher medical facilities, while around 110 people are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals, including 15 admitted to intensive care units. Indore Divisional Commissioner Sudam Khade said the figures were being continuously reviewed by the health department.
In response to the outbreak, the health department launched an intensive ground-level intervention. A real-time household survey was conducted using the Kobo digital assessment tool to monitor the spread of illness and ensure access to safe drinking water. Around 200 medical teams were deployed across the affected locality, visiting pre-identified homes to assess health conditions.
Each household was provided with oral rehydration salts, zinc tablets, and water purification solution. Residents were advised on proper water treatment methods, safe hygiene practices, and the importance of completing prescribed medication. Health teams also distributed helpline numbers and conducted awareness sessions to prevent further spread of the illness.
