Daijiworld Media Network - Indore
Indore, Dec 31: At least three persons have died and more than 100 others have been hospitalised in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore over the past few days after allegedly consuming contaminated drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura area of the city.
Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava on Tuesday confirmed receiving information about the deaths due to diarrhoea, though the identities of the deceased were not disclosed. Local residents, however, claimed that at least five persons, including four women, have died so far after falling ill.
Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced a financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and said the state government would bear the medical expenses of all those affected.
According to Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani, following reports of a diarrhoea outbreak, health department teams surveyed 2,703 households in Bhagirathpura and examined around 12,000 people. On-the-spot treatment was provided to 1,146 persons with mild symptoms, while 111 patients with serious conditions were admitted to various hospitals. Of them, 18 have been discharged after treatment.
“The patients complained of vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration after consuming contaminated water,” Hasani said, adding that several medical teams and four ambulances have been deployed in the locality. Samples of drinking water have been collected and sent for laboratory testing.
Municipal Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav said a leakage was detected in the main water supply pipeline in Bhagirathpura, at a spot over which a toilet had been constructed. While water sample reports are awaited, the mayor said it prima facie appeared that drainage water might have mixed with drinking water supply lines. He assured strict action against officials found negligent.
Residents alleged that contaminated Narmada river water supplied through municipal tap connections led to the outbreak, claiming their repeated complaints about foul-smelling water were ignored. Local councillor Kamal Baghela said people had complained that water supplied on December 25 had an unusual smell.
Several deaths were reported from the area, including Nandlal Pal (80), Seema Prajapat (50), Urmila Yadav (70), Manjula Digambar Vadhe (74) and Uma Kori (29), whose family members said they suffered from severe diarrhoea after consuming contaminated water.
The incident triggered a political row, with the Congress demanding that a culpable homicide case be filed against the mayor and the municipal commissioner. State Congress president Jitu Patwari alleged the possibility of a poisonous substance mixing with the water supply and blamed the ruling BJP for negligence. The BJP, however, dismissed the allegations, accusing the Congress of politicising a tragic incident.
Indore depends on the Narmada river for its water supply, which is transported through a municipal pipeline from Jalud in neighbouring Khargone district, around 80 km away.