January 2, 2026
NEW DELHI – What should have been an ordinary glass of drinking water turned fatal for several families in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area, where at least four people have died and more than 149 have been hospitalised after consuming allegedly contaminated water. Behind the official figures lie homes filled with silence, shock and questions that remain unanswered.
As per some media reports, the death toll due to the consumption of contaminated water has risen to eight.
A child born after 10 years, gone in 6 months
Among the dead is a six-month-old boy whose birth had come after a decade of waiting for his family. Sunil Sahu still struggles to grasp how quickly life slipped away from his infant son.
“He had diarrhoea and fever. We took him to the doctor on December 26. The medicines helped, and he seemed fine for two days,” Sahu recalled, his voice breaking. “But suddenly one night, he developed a very high fever. He vomited and died at home on December 29.”
The child, born after 10 years, was the family’s long-awaited joy. “I already have a daughter. This son came after so many years. He was only six months old,” the father said.
Many such stories of pain have emerged
Recounting her father’s death after consuming contaminated water, Sudha Pal said he passed away on the 30th after suffering severe diarrhoea and vomiting. “He did not have a heart attack or any other illness. It was solely due to diarrhoea and vomiting,” she said, adding that his condition deteriorated so rapidly that he could no longer stand on his own.
According to her, several others in the area also fell ill after consuming the same water. “The water smelled bad. We suspected that some medicine or harmful substance might have been mixed into it,” she said.
#WATCH | Indore, Madhya Pradesh: On her father’s death after consuming contaminated water, Sudha Pal says, “My father passed away on the 30th. He died due to diarrhoea and vomiting. He didn’t have a heart attack or any other illness. It was solely due to diarrhoea and vomiting.… pic.twitter.com/IhyJ3N6dQY
— ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2026
Can money replace a life?
The state government has announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh for families of the deceased and assured free treatment for all patients. Officials say disciplinary action has been taken against water supply personnel, and an investigation is underway to identify the source of contamination.
But for grieving families, compensation offers little solace.
The questions of the bereaved parents, echoing a sentiment heard across the affected lanes, are simple, yet devastating: How did this happen? Could it have been prevented? And who will ensure it never happens again?
Illness spreads door to door
Reports suggest the outbreak led to severe vomiting and diarrhoea across the locality. Emergency screening was launched as panic spread, with medical teams moving door to door.
The District Magistrate said survey teams are conducting door-to-door checks to identify more affected persons and prevent further spread of illness. He added that nearly 2,700 houses had been surveyed till Tuesday, and the exercise is being extended to nearby areas as well.
Hospitals in Indore admitted hundreds over a span of a few days. Many patients were discharged after recovery, but dozens remain under observation. Over 40,000 residents were screened, and thousands reported symptoms. Of these, 2,456 suspected cases were identified, and 212 were admitted to hospitals. Around 50 patients have recovered and been discharged, while 162 patients are still admitted.
#WATCH | Indore, Madhya Pradesh | After three people died and around 149 were hospitalised in Indore due to contaminated water, Indore DM and Municipal Corporation Commissioner surveyed the area.
The Municipal Corporation has been supplying water to households, with ambulances… pic.twitter.com/OPjwiJgngZ
— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2025
For families living in the affected neighbourhood, largely from economically weaker sections, each trip to the hospital brought fear of losing another loved one.
ASHA and ANM workers continue to distribute ORS packets, while residents have been advised to boil water. Yet for many, trust in something as basic as drinking water has been deeply shaken.
Tall assurances, lingering fear
Authorities insist corrective measures are in full swing, water sources are being tested, and surveys expanded to nearby areas. Yet residents say fear still grips daily life.
As Indore struggles to come to terms with the tragedy, the focus on numbers, reports and promises feels hollow to families who have already paid the highest price.
For them, this is not about statistics or statements, it is about loved ones lost to something as basic, and as essential, as water.