7 dead, over 100 hospitalised as sewage mixes with drinking water in Madhya Pradesh; inquiry exposes killer lapses by authorities

Speaking to The Indian Express, Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dilip Kumar confirmed the findings, saying: “We have found that in case of the construction of the toilet, no safety tank was constructed beneath it. We are also probing the other lapses.”

A child fills water from a pipe in pot and buckets in Bhagirathpur area as people suffering from contaminated water increases, in Indore on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

In response to the crisis, authorities have taken swift disciplinary action. The water supply Assistant Engineer (AE) has been suspended, the sub-engineer relieved of duty, and the Zonal Officer suspended for failing to ensure proper coordination.

“The zonal officer has been suspended because he should have seen overall coordination,” Commissioner Kumar said, emphasising accountability in the department’s response.

The official revealed that a detected leakage in the main water supply pipeline, combined with the improperly constructed toilet, created conditions for sewage to contaminate the drinking water supply.

“We have found a few chambers that intersect the distribution line. We are getting them diverted,” Kumar said, adding that water test reports expected by evening would determine the next course of action and the full extent of contamination.

Grief-stricken families, meanwhile, live in fear of drinking water from the locality as they grapple with how a basic necessity turned into a silent killer. Jitendra Prajapat recounted the death of his 50-year-old sister, Seema Prajapat.

“My sister suddenly started suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea and we did not even get a chance to manage the situation. She died on the way to the hospital,” said Jitendra Prajapat, his voice breaking as he recounted the death of his 50-year-old sister, Seema Prajapat. “One moment she was at home, the next she was gone.”

Another victim is Manjulata, an elderly woman whose death left her family shattered. Manjulata was cooking when she began complaining of stomach pain. Soon, vomiting and diarrhoea set in, sending her family scurrying to the hospital, where she passed away within hours, leaving behind her five daughters and elderly husband.

Her husband Digambar is still in disbelief.

“For the past several days, the water had been coming out dirty. We even filed complaints, but nothing was done about it. No one listened,” he said.

Siddharth is still in shock over losing his 75-year-old father, Nandlal Pal.

“My father died on Tuesday morning. He was fine just days ago. We rushed him to the hospital on December 28 when the vomiting and diarrhoea started. We thought it was something he ate, never imagined the water we drink every day could kill him,” he said.

Chandrakala Yadav’s account of her 70-year-old mother-in-law Urmila Yadav’s death is similar, etched in pain.

“On December 27, after drinking water from the tap, she developed severe diarrhoea. By the next day, she was gone. She used to tell us the water tasted strange, but we never thought it could be this dangerous. How can the water that’s supposed to keep us alive take our lives?” she asked.

For Bihari Kori, whose 29-year-old wife Uma Kori succumbed to the illness, the tragedy hasn’t sunk in yet.

“My wife was young and healthy. She had her whole life ahead of her. We have small children who keep asking for their mother. What do I tell them? That the water from our own tap killed her?” he says. Calling for accountability, he adds: “My children have lost their mother because someone failed to do their job.”

The tragedy was compounded by the fact that residents had noticed warning signs for days but did not realise the danger they were in.

“For the past week, the water tasted bitter, almost metallic,” Jitendra Prajapat said. “My sister complained about it. My neighbours and I did too. We thought maybe they had added too much chlorine or some purification chemical. We boiled the water, thinking that would make it safe. We had no idea contamination could be this severe.”

Authorities have launched an aggressive response to contain the crisis and prevent further casualties. District Magistrate Shivam Verma outlined the scale of the operation: “Around 149 people are admitted to hospitals… Our survey team is going door-to-door. 2,700 houses had been surveyed by yesterday.”

The survey has been extended to nearby areas to determine if contamination has spread beyond Bhagirathpura, the initial epicentre. Auxiliary Nurse Midwife and ASHA workers are distributing oral rehydration solution (ORS) to residents as a precautionary measure.

“Our survey team is also visiting nearby areas. The ANM and ASHA workers are also going door-to-door and distributing ORS to people,” District Magistrate Verma said.