According to the Congress, Rahul Gandhi will begin his visit with a stop at Bombay Hospital, where several patients affected by waterborne illnesses are undergoing treatment. He will then interact with bereaved families and residents impacted by the crisis. For security reasons, his visit to individual homes in Bhagirathpura has been modified. Instead of entering the narrow lanes, Gandhi will meet families near the Bhagirathpura water tank, following advice from security agencies after a late-night review on Friday.
The interaction with victims’ families is scheduled between 12.45 pm and 1.45 pm, after which Rahul Gandhi will address the media. Earlier plans to visit the homes of five-month-old Avyan Sahu, Ashok Panwar and Geeta Bai Dhupekar were altered due to logistical and security constraints.
Ahead of the visit, the Pradesh Congress Committee organised a show of strength at the Indore airport, attended by senior leaders including state Congress president Jitu Patwari and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh. Party officials said a separate public meeting was cancelled due to lack of administrative permission.
Security agencies conducted route inspections late Friday night, assessing access points and neighbourhoods linked to the proposed visit. During the preparations, it was also found that one of the victim families was not present at their residence, which was locked.
The Congress legislature party is expected to submit an investigation report to Rahul Gandhi during the visit. State Congress spokesperson Rajesh Chouksey said the report holds the Indore Municipal Corporation responsible for supplying contaminated water and includes technical findings indicating the presence of dangerous bacteria in the drinking water system.
The party has announced statewide protests from January 17 to 31 over the Bhagirathpura deaths, alleged dilution of MNREGA provisions, and declining water quality across Madhya Pradesh. Congress leaders have demanded ₹1 crore compensation for each victim’s family, FIRs against those responsible, and an independent judicial probe, calling the existing ₹2 lakh relief inadequate.
The visit is likely to intensify political pressure on the state government, with water safety and accountability expected to dominate the debate in the coming days.
