Drinking water contaminated by sewage has been cited as the cause of the deaths of at least 10 people in Indore, the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh state, which has been ranked India’s “cleanest city” for the past eight years. According to the local press, residents of a working-class neighborhood have been alerting the authorities for months about a bad smell coming from their tap water. Despite the city’s good record, praised for its work in sorting waste and other cleaning measures, the complaints have gone unheeded. Residents began showing up at the hospital earlier this week, complaining of vomiting, diarrhea and high fever.
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Local media reported the death toll at 15, but there was no official confirmation. About 270 people have been hospitalized and at least 32 patients remain in intensive care units. State Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said health teams conducting door-to-door visits had identified 2,456 “suspected patients” who were given first aid “on the spot”.
— I have received information about 10 deaths due to an outbreak of diarrhea caused by contaminated water in Bhagirathpura area — said Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava. According to him, the sewage was mixing “in the main pipe that runs from the water tank”.
Authorities report that it appears public toilets built over a drinking water aqueduct allowed sewage to mix with the structure’s water. The bathroom was built without a septic tank. Water tests “confirmed the presence of abnormal bacteria typically found in sewage containing human waste,” a medical official said. Several municipal employees have been suspended pending an investigation. The government said new rules would be drawn up to prevent similar incidents.
— In principle, this case amounts to serious neglect of duty — said an Indore councilor, Kamal Waghela.
Among the victims was a five-month-old child who was bottle-fed with tap water, his father Sunil Sahu told reporters.
— No one told us the water was contaminated. We filter. The same water flowed throughout the neighborhood. There was no warning,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Congress Rahul Gandhi accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government of negligence, saying “drinking water is not a favor – it is a right to life”.
But this is not a new problem in India. The crisis in Indore comes amid wider concerns over water security across the country. The Times of India reported that only 8% of public water testing laboratories run by the Indian government were accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Testing and Calibration Laboratories, which certifies facilities that meet international quality control standards.
Nationally, 59% of public laboratories are now accredited. Experts warn that as India’s urban population grows rapidly, errors in water testing increase the risk of disease outbreaks.
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