Indore Water Crisis: Death Toll Rises to 17, Report to Be Submitted in High Court Today

The death toll linked to contaminated drinking water in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area has risen to 17, following the death of a 69-year-old retired policeman, intensifying concerns over the city’s public health infrastructure. Authorities are scheduled to submit a detailed status report in the High Court on Monday.

Latest Fatality

The deceased has been identified as Omprakash Sharma, a retired police personnel and resident of Shiv Vihar Colony, Dhar district, who had recently come to Indore to visit his son. On January 1, he suddenly fell ill with vomiting and diarrhea and was admitted to a private hospital. Doctors later confirmed that his kidneys had failed, and despite being placed on a ventilator, he passed away on Sunday afternoon.

Family members stated that Sharma only had a history of high blood pressure and alleged that his condition deteriorated after consuming contaminated water.

Rising Number of Patients

• Total hospitalised so far: 398
• Discharged after recovery: 256
• Currently under treatment: 142
• ICU patients at Bombay Hospital: 7 (4 shifted to general ward after improvement)

Hospitals across the city continue to face heavy inflow of patients suffering from acute gastroenteritis-like symptoms.

Massive Health Survey & Emergency Measures

The Health Department has intensified surveillance:

• 2,354 houses surveyed
• 9,416 people medically examined
• 20 new patients identified
• 429 older cases followed up

According to CMHO Dr. Madhav Hasani, five ambulances have been stationed in the affected area as a precautionary step.

Relief and Preventive Actions

• Distribution of ORS packets (10 per household) and 30 zinc tablets
• Supply of clean water bottle kits
• Deployment of 17 ground-level teams including ASHA workers, ANMs, community health officers, NGOs, and volunteers to spread awareness and monitor health conditions

Judicial Scrutiny

With fatalities mounting and hundreds affected, the case has reached the High Court, where authorities are expected to explain the source of contamination, accountability, and corrective measures.

The situation remains critical, and the incident has once again exposed serious lapses in urban water safety and disease prevention mechanisms.