Indore Water Tragedy: Court Orders Probe, Report by Jan 24
Indore Water Tragedy: Court Orders Probe, Report by Jan 24
Indore court directs police to probe 10 deaths from contaminated water in Bhagirathpura, prompting a statewide clean-water push and accountability drive.
Bhopal: Indore district court has directed the Banganga police to investigate 10 deaths after residents consumed contaminated water in Bhagirathpura and to submit a report by January 24. The order comes on a complaint filed by Ramuroop Singh, a resident of Mohta Nagar, seeking registration of an FIR against the district collector and both the former and current municipal commissioners for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Singh’s petition argues that authorities failed to act on repeated complaints made through the CM Helpline and the Mayor Helpline, leaving the community exposed to a dangerous water supply.
The outbreak, first reported on December 29, has sickened more than 1,500 people in the working-class neighborhood, with at least 10 confirmed fatalities. On Friday, 15 new patients were identified, and hospitals reported 50 people admitted, including 10 in intensive care. The court’s direction underscores the perceived severity of the crisis and signals a push for formal accountability as investigators collect evidence and build a case against implicated officials.
The petition names prominent officials, including a suspended municipal commissioner and other top executives, and calls for action under section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha. In a related development, Neeraj Mandloi, additional chief secretary to the chief minister, chaired a high-level meeting with top officials to review the situation in Bhagirathpura and to coordinate a response. Health authorities say the crisis highlights a broader need for reliable, safe water and stronger maintenance of water-supply infrastructure across the city.
To address the immediate crisis, a statewide clean-water campaign is being promoted, focusing on regular water testing, proper chlorination, and rapid reporting of water-quality concerns. The authorities have stressed that residents should boil or treat water where possible and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms such as diarrhoea or vomiting appear. Despite government statements of action, health officials reported six more hospitalisations in Indore amid ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of the response and the scale of the outbreak. The evolving situation has put pressure on authorities to deliver transparency, accountability, and concrete improvements to water safety for all residents.
