Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Sewage Mixing With Drinking Water Kills 7 in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, Over 100 Remain Hospitalized

Seven dead, over 100 people hospitalized as they drink water with sewage mixes in Madhya Pradesh's Indore. The Hindu reports that while official toll may suggest a different number, residents said that 14 people have died, and 2,500 are sick. According to a report submitted to the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) by the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Medical College on January 1, 2026, a total of 26 Indore water samples were found contaminated. The report suggests that officials took steps to clean and repair the water supply line, and began the work on a delayed, new supply line, yet the samples remain contaminated. 

The first day of 2026 also brought in a notice from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), issued to Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Anurag Jain and asked for a detailed report on the matter in two weeks. The report which was submitted to IMC collected 70 samples from various locations in Indore, and 26 of them were found to be contaminated. 

<h2>What Happened In Madhya Pradesh?</h2>

Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav reported that the seven deaths were linked to the outbreak, which occurred due to lapses in civic infrastructure. Investigation revealed that a toilet constructed directly above a main drinking pipeline near a police outpost, without a mandatory safety tank resulted in the sewage mixing with drinking water. 

Speaking to The Indian Express, Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dilip Kumar said, “We have found that in case of the construction of the toilet, no safety tank was constructed beneath it. We are also probing the other lapses.”

<h2>What Actions Have Been Taken So Far?</h2>

As of now, the water supply Assistant Engineer (AE) has been suspended, and the sub-engineer relieved of duty. The Zonal Officer has also been suspended for failing to ensure proper coordination. “The zonal officer has been suspended because he should have seen overall coordination,” Commissioner Kumar said.

“We have found a few chambers that intersect the distribution line. We are getting them diverted,” Kumar also noted.

While authorities take action, families grief-stricken families remain in the fear of drinking water from the locality. One of the victim's family member Jitendra Prajapat, who lost his 50-year-old sister, Seema Prajapat, recounts the horrors. 

“My sister suddenly started suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea and we did not even get a chance to manage the situation. She died on the way to the hospital,” told Jitendra Prajapat to The Indian Express. “One moment she was at home, the next she was gone.”

Another victim is Manjulata, an elderly woman, whose husband said, “For the past several days, the water had been coming out dirty. We even filed complaints, but nothing was done about it. No one listened."

Authorities have stepped up efforts to contain the crisis and avert further casualties. District Magistrate Shivam Verma said the response has been extensive, with around 149 people currently hospitalised and survey teams conducting door-to-door checks. By 31 December, 2025, nearly 2,700 houses had already been covered.

The survey has been extended to other surrounding areas in Indore to check the water quality and to know whether the contamination has spread beyond Bhagirathpura, which was the initial epicentre. for precaution, ASHA workers and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives are also distributing oral rehydration solution (ORS) to residents.

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Seven dead, over 100 people hospitalized as they drink water with sewage mixes in Madhya Pradesh's Indore. The Hindu reports that while official toll may suggest a different number, residents said that 14 people have died, and 2,500 are sick. According to a report submitted to the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) by the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Medical College on January 1, 2026, a total of 26 Indore water samples were found contaminated. The report suggests that officials took steps to clean and repair the water supply line, and began the work on a delayed, new supply line, yet the samples remain contaminated. The first day of 2026 also brought in a notice from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), issued to Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Anurag Jain and asked for a detailed report on the matter in two weeks. The report which was submitted to IMC collected 70 samples from various locations in Indore, and 26 of them were found to be contaminated. What Happened In Madhya Pradesh?Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav reported that the seven deaths were linked to the outbreak, which occurred due to lapses in civic infrastructure. Investigation revealed that a toilet constructed directly above a main drinking pipeline near a police outpost, without a mandatory safety tank resulted in the sewage mixing with drinking water. Speaking to The Indian Express, Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dilip Kumar said, “We have found that in case of the construction of the toilet, no safety tank was constructed beneath it. We are also probing the other lapses.”What Actions Have Been Taken So Far?As of now, the water supply Assistant Engineer (AE) has been suspended, and the sub-engineer relieved of duty. The Zonal Officer has also been suspended for failing to ensure proper coordination. “The zonal officer has been suspended because he should have seen overall coordination,” Commissioner Kumar said.“We have found a few chambers that intersect the distribution line. We are getting them diverted,” Kumar also noted.While authorities take action, families grief-stricken families remain in the fear of drinking water from the locality. One of the victim's family member Jitendra Prajapat, who lost his 50-year-old sister, Seema Prajapat, recounts the horrors. “My sister suddenly started suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea and we did not even get a chance to manage the situation. She died on the way to the hospital,” told Jitendra Prajapat to The Indian Express. “One moment she was at home, the next she was gone.”Another victim is Manjulata, an elderly woman, whose husband said, “For the past several days, the water had been coming out dirty. We even filed complaints, but nothing was done about it. No one listened."Authorities have stepped up efforts to contain the crisis and avert further casualties. District Magistrate Shivam Verma said the response has been extensive, with around 149 people currently hospitalised and survey teams conducting door-to-door checks. By 31 December, 2025, nearly 2,700 houses had already been covered.The survey has been extended to other surrounding areas in Indore to check the water quality and to know whether the contamination has spread beyond Bhagirathpura, which was the initial epicentre. for precaution, ASHA workers and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives are also distributing oral rehydration solution (ORS) to residents.