Indore’s water contamination: Scientists probe deadly outbreak
Indore’s water contamination: Scientists probe deadly outbreak
Investigators in Indore are probing a lethal, polymicrobial water contamination in Bhagirathpura that has killed 10 and hospitalised hundreds.
Indore: A team of scientists from the National Institute of Bacteriology, Kolkata, on Sunday began collecting water and stool samples from people who fell ill after drinking contaminated water in Indore for a detailed investigation into the bacteria involved. At least 10 people have died and 210 have been hospitalised since the outbreak began on December 25. Residents of Bhagirathpura had long complained about foul-smelling water before the crisis deepened, raising alarms about the city’s water supply. Test reports of water samples confirmed the tap water carried a cocktail of deadly pathogens — including E. coli, Salmonella and Vibrio cholerae — along with viruses, fungi and protozoa, leading to polymicrobial infections that caused multi-organ failure and sepsis among patients. A case of Guillain-Barré syndrome was detected in a woman admitted after diarrhoea, a finding being explored for potential links to Campylobacter jejuni. The health department and the National Health Mission are coordinating the investigation, with an expert panel reviewing deaths and the process for compensation to families. Around 32 patients remain in intensive care, underscoring the severity of the outbreak and the urgent need for reliable water safety measures.
