Indore waterborne disease outbreak shows cleanliness status demands much more than mere appearance

Medicines being distributed at a camp in Indore. (PTI)

Indore, long hailed as India’s cleanest city and a national model for urban sanitation, is grappling with a severe public health emergency following a waterborne disease outbreak in the Bhagirathpura area. The crisis, which unfolded in mid-December 2025, has exposed serious lapses in water supply monitoring and civic accountability, leading to loss of lives and widespread illness among residents. The first signs of trouble emerged when residents noticed an unusual foul smell, bitter taste and visible discolouration in the municipal drinking water supplied to the locality. Despite repeated complaints to civic authorities, no immediate corrective action was taken. Soon after consuming the contaminated water, large numbers of people began experiencing vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration and high fever, triggering panic and a rush to nearby hospitals.

Official sources stated that the outbreak has resulted in 10 deaths and the hospitalisation of over 200 people, with media reports indicating that the actual scale of impact may be significantly higher. Laboratory tests conducted by the Health Department confirmed bacterial contamination of the municipal water supply, with samples testing positive for pathogens known to cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea. The contamination was traced to a leak in the main drinking water pipeline near a police outpost in Bhagirathpura, reportedly close to a toilet structure, which allowed sewage to seep into the water supply. The affected pipeline has since been isolated, repaired, and thoroughly disinfected, and residents have been advised not to use tap water until full safety clearance is officially declared.

The authorities announced Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia compensation for the families of the deceased and assured that the government would fully bear all medical expenses of affected residents. The Indore Municipal Corporation also took strict disciplinary action against erring officials, suspending a zonal officer and an assistant engineer, and dismissing an in-charge sub-engineer for negligence and failure to act on repeated public complaints.

As an immediate relief measure, the IMC deployed around 20 water tankers to supply safe drinking water to the affected areas. Taking serious cognisance of the incident, the Madhya Pradesh High Court, on December 31, issued strong directions to the IMC and the state government, with a Division Bench of Justice Rajesh Kumar Gupta and Justice B P Sharma describing the situation as a grave public health emergency. The HC noted that despite repeated complaints about deteriorating water quality, authorities failed to act in time, leading to widespread illness and loss of life, amounting to an alleged violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, guaranteeing the right to life and health.

Issuing interim orders, the HC directed the IMC to immediately ensure the supply of clean, safe and potable drinking water to residents of the affected areas and to take all necessary steps for maintaining a regular supply of safe water. The Bench also directed the state government to ensure that all affected persons admitted to hospitals receive the best possible medical treatment, with no compromise on care.

Health officials have urged residents to remain cautious to avoid drinking tap water, use boiled or tanker-supplied water for drinking and cooking, maintain strict personal hygiene, and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting or fever appear. Special care has been advised for children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. The incident exposes a largely reactive and casual approach to water management, where citizen complaints, routine testing, preventive maintenance, and early warning systems were neglected until the crisis escalated. The breakdown of the last-mile drinking water delivery system, especially in older and densely populated areas, highlights poor coordination among engineering, sanitation and public health departments, coupled with weak field-level accountability.

Addressing these challenges requires institutional reforms, not temporary measures, such as regular and publicly disclosed water quality testing, time-bound grievance redressal, independent safety audits, and clearly defined responsibility at every operational level. As the HC continues to monitor the case, rebuilding public trust will depend on whether authorities adopt a preventive, accountable and citizen-centric water governance framework that recognises safe drinking water as a fundamental public health right.

The writer is research associate, MPISSR, Ujjain