According to the district administration, a total of 429 residents were admitted to hospitals following the outbreak of waterborne illness. By Tuesday evening, 330 patients had been discharged, but 99 remain under treatment. Doctors said the condition of several patients is serious, reflecting a worsening trend in ICU cases despite a fall in fresh admissions.
Fear and uncertainty continue to grip Bhagirathpura, where several borewells have been sealed as a precautionary measure. Residents are now dependent on water tankers and packaged drinking water for daily needs, amid concerns over the safety of the local water supply.
Health authorities said extensive containment and surveillance measures are underway. Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani said 61 health teams comprising nursing officers, community health officers, ASHAs and ANMs were deployed for door-to-door surveys. Over two days, teams visited 5,013 households and contacted 24,786 people, providing medicines, counselling and preventive drops.
A digital survey using the Kobo Tool mobile application was conducted to record household-level data, including illness severity, number of affected family members and awareness of safe drinking water practices.
An investigation by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) found that 17 lanes in Bhagirathpura were affected, with infection indicators present in nearly 40–50 per cent of the area. Officials identified 460 affected houses and around 600 symptomatic patients. No cases were reported in the lane opposite the Bhagirathpura water tank, based on which a heat-gap map was prepared.
The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court took serious note of the incident while hearing five related petitions together on Tuesday. The court described the situation as a public health emergency and observed that the episode had tarnished Indore’s reputation as India’s cleanest city. It underlined that access to clean drinking water is a fundamental right and warned that civil and criminal liability could be fixed on responsible officials. The court also indicated it would intervene if compensation to victims’ families was found inadequate.
Meanwhile, political tensions have escalated. The Madhya Pradesh Mahila Congress announced statewide candle marches on Wednesday to protest the deaths. Congress state president Jitu Patwari and Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar visited the affected area, meeting families of the deceased and demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Urban Administration Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya and Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava.
Authorities said investigations into the source of contamination are ongoing, while emergency water supply arrangements continue in the affected locality.
18 Die After Consuming Contaminated Water in Indore’s Bhagirathpura; High Court Calls It Public Health Emergency
Digital Desk
According to the district administration, a total of 429 residents were admitted to hospitals following the outbreak of waterborne illness. By Tuesday evening, 330 patients had been discharged, but 99 remain under treatment. Doctors said the condition of several patients is serious, reflecting a worsening trend in ICU cases despite a fall in fresh admissions.
Fear and uncertainty continue to grip Bhagirathpura, where several borewells have been sealed as a precautionary measure. Residents are now dependent on water tankers and packaged drinking water for daily needs, amid concerns over the safety of the local water supply.
Health authorities said extensive containment and surveillance measures are underway. Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani said 61 health teams comprising nursing officers, community health officers, ASHAs and ANMs were deployed for door-to-door surveys. Over two days, teams visited 5,013 households and contacted 24,786 people, providing medicines, counselling and preventive drops.
A digital survey using the Kobo Tool mobile application was conducted to record household-level data, including illness severity, number of affected family members and awareness of safe drinking water practices.
An investigation by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) found that 17 lanes in Bhagirathpura were affected, with infection indicators present in nearly 40–50 per cent of the area. Officials identified 460 affected houses and around 600 symptomatic patients. No cases were reported in the lane opposite the Bhagirathpura water tank, based on which a heat-gap map was prepared.
The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court took serious note of the incident while hearing five related petitions together on Tuesday. The court described the situation as a public health emergency and observed that the episode had tarnished Indore’s reputation as India’s cleanest city. It underlined that access to clean drinking water is a fundamental right and warned that civil and criminal liability could be fixed on responsible officials. The court also indicated it would intervene if compensation to victims’ families was found inadequate.
Meanwhile, political tensions have escalated. The Madhya Pradesh Mahila Congress announced statewide candle marches on Wednesday to protest the deaths. Congress state president Jitu Patwari and Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar visited the affected area, meeting families of the deceased and demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Urban Administration Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya and Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava.
Authorities said investigations into the source of contamination are ongoing, while emergency water supply arrangements continue in the affected locality.
