Indore: Contaminated water has killed many people in the cleanest city in India
Indore: The nation’s cleanest city, Indore, is seeing fatalities from tainted water supplies in the crowded Bhagirathpura neighborhood four years after being named India’s first Water Plus city. While Pushyamitra Bhargava, the mayor of Indore, said that seven fatalities were caused by diarrhea that was first thought to be caused by polluted water, district collector Shivam Verma acknowledged four deaths.
According to unverified accounts, the death toll is between eight and ten. According to Verma, “about 149 patients are currently admitted at 27 different hospitals in the city, while four deaths are confirmed.” The impacted region is located in Indore-1, which is the state urban administration and housing minister Kailash Vijayvargiya’s assembly seat.
For managing water, treating all wastewater, keeping untreated sewage out of rivers, and recycling treated water, Indore was awarded the Water Plus designation in the Swachh Survekshan back in 2021. The city, which has been the cleanest for seven years running, is now making headlines due to a severe diarrheal epidemic. After four crucial days, 62-year-old Kaushalya Kushwah was rescued by medical professionals. “My wife returned from the jaws of death… but my neighbor, 70-year-old railway employee Nandlal Pal, wasn’t fortunate,” said her husband, Bansilal Kushwah. Two days after being admitted, Pal passed away.
According to unverified sources, Nandlal Pal, Manjula, Urmila Yadav, Uma Kori, Tara Bai Kori, Seema Prajapat, Gomti Rawat, and Santosh Bigolia were among those who died between December 28 and 30.
The investigation panel consisted of three members. The compensation of `2 lakh was declared by the chief minister, who traveled to Indore on Wednesday night to see patients. Residents were told to drink cooked water, officials were suspended, tankers were sent in, and samples were gathered. More than 2,700 homes were inspected by health teams.
According to officials, the government would cover all of the expenses associated with patients’ care at private hospitals. A location where the drainage/sewer line crossed the water pipeline under the restroom constructed next to a police outpost was discovered during the continuing inspection of the Bhagirathpura neighborhood.