The move comes as Indore grapples with serious allegations of sewage-mixed water being supplied to households in several localities. The controversy has intensified after reports indicated that the death toll linked to contaminated water has risen to 20, even as the state government told the high court that only four deaths were directly caused by the incident. Despite this, compensation of ₹2 lakh each has reportedly been paid to the families of 18 deceased, raising questions over official figures.
During the inspection, Singhar interacted with residents, conducted spot checks, and personally collected water samples for testing. Residents complained of foul-smelling, discoloured water flowing from taps, expressing fears of disease outbreaks. Singhar said such accounts reflect a continuing public health risk that has not been adequately addressed by the authorities.
“The government’s incompetence has forced me to personally initiate a water audit in Indore. Complaints of contaminated water are still coming in from several areas. This is an extremely serious matter affecting people’s lives,” Singhar said during the visit.
Congress leaders accompanying him said the audit will extend to multiple neighbourhoods across the city, particularly areas where repeated complaints have been made against the municipal corporation. Singhar began his tour around 10.30 am and is expected to continue inspections until late evening, engaging directly with citizens to assess ground-level conditions.
The political temperature around the issue rose further after Singhar, a day earlier, levelled allegations against Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava. He questioned the presence of a currency note-counting machine in the mayor’s office, suggesting it reflected misplaced priorities and a lack of sensitivity amid a public health crisis. The mayor and civic authorities have not responded publicly to these allegations.
Calling the contamination episode an administrative failure rather than an accident, Singhar said a city that prides itself on cleanliness should not witness deaths linked to unsafe drinking water. He claimed more than 16 people had died and hundreds had fallen ill since the incident emerged in late December 2025.
Indore, ranked India’s cleanest city for the eighth consecutive year, now faces growing scrutiny over water safety and governance. As investigations continue, the opposition has demanded accountability and corrective measures, warning that public trust will erode further if the crisis is not transparently addressed.
