31st Death in Indore Due to Contaminated Water; Rahul Gandhi Had Visited Patient Earlier

Indore, MP: The deadly water contamination crisis in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area has claimed its 31st life. Seventy-two-year-old Eknath Suryavanshi passed away after a prolonged battle with illness caused by toxic water. Notably, Suryavanshi was the patient whom Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited at Bombay Hospital on January 17 to inquire about his health.

According to reports, Suryavanshi was admitted to Shelbi Hospital on December 29, 2025, after experiencing severe vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. Despite initial treatment, his condition did not improve, and he was referred to Bombay Hospital on January 3, 2026. By January 4, his condition had worsened, requiring ventilator support for over 25 days during his month-long hospitalization.

Doctors stated that both his kidneys had failed, his liver was severely damaged, and the illness had impacted his heart and brain. Most patients affected by this outbreak have suffered multi-organ failure. On Thursday evening, with family consent, Suryavanshi was discharged and taken home, but he passed away shortly afterward.

Eknath Suryavanshi had served in the Water Resources Department since 1983, initially as a daily-wage employee and later made permanent, though his pension and other benefits are still under consideration in the High Court. He is survived by his 63-year-old wife, Shakuntala, who is herself a heart patient.

The crisis continues to affect other families. On January 21, 51-year-old Hemant Gaikwad died from the same illness, and his wife is now critically ill in ICU with kidney complications. Currently, four patients remain hospitalized, three in the ICU of Bombay Hospital and one at Arvindo Hospital. More than 450 patients have been treated and discharged so far, according to the Health Department.