16 Deaths Linked to Contaminated Water in Bhagirathpura, 4 Cases Remain Inconclusive; High Court Objects to ‘Verbal Autopsy’ Term

Indore:
The Indore High Court on Tuesday held an extensive hearing lasting over two and a half hours on the public interest litigations related to deaths allegedly caused by contaminated drinking water in Bhagirathpura area.

During the proceedings, a report detailing 23 deaths was submitted before the court. Out of these, 16 deaths were officially acknowledged as being caused by contaminated water. However, four cases were described as inconclusive, while three deaths were not linked to water contamination. The court expressed serious doubts over the credibility of the report, terming it an “eye-wash”.

Chief Secretary Anurag Jain appeared before the court virtually for around ten minutes during the hearing.

Objection to the Term ‘Verbal Autopsy’

The division bench comprising Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi strongly objected to the use of the term “verbal autopsy” in the report. The bench questioned whether the term has any recognized basis in medical science or if it was merely used without scientific validation. The court also noted that the report failed to clearly mention the exact medical causes of death.

Water Supply Restored in 30% Area

The Indore Municipal Corporation informed the court that water supply has been restored in nearly 30 percent of the Bhagirathpura area, covering a pipeline stretch of approximately 9.5 kilometers. Officials further stated that 16 borewells found to be supplying contaminated water have been shut down.

However, petitioners raised concerns, questioning how residents would meet their daily water needs if the borewells remain closed. The corporation claimed that residents are being warned through posters and pamphlets, but petitioners argued that most locals are illiterate and may not be able to understand such notices.

Testing Reduced from 34 to 8 Parameters

It was also revealed during the hearing that the water samples were tested on only eight parameters, whereas in 2018, the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board had tested Bhagirathpura’s water on 34 parameters and declared it faecally contaminated. Petitioners further informed the court about three internationally accepted standards for reliable water testing.

No Government Compensation Yet

Advocate Ajay Bagadiya informed the court that although the death audit report linked 16 deaths to contaminated water, the remarks column did not clearly specify the causes of death. He also highlighted that no compensation has been provided by the state government so far.

The financial assistance given to the families of the deceased is currently being provided by the Red Cross Society. He pointed out that in other accidental deaths, the government provides compensation of ₹4 lakh per deceased, raising the question of whether the lives lost due to contaminated water hold lesser value.