Daily wage labourer Arvind Likhar returned home to Indore’s Bhagirathpura colony as usual. Within hours, his brother says something was terribly wrong. “On Sunday, he returned to the house from work. He kept vomiting,” recalled his brother, Anil Likhar, as quoted by ANI. A few days later, when Anil was at his shop, the family called in panic to inform that Arvind’s condition had deteriorated. “We took him to the hospital. The doctor stated that he had lost his life on the way,” he stated.
Arvind is among several people whose deaths have been related to suspected contaminated drinking water in Bhagirathpura, where a vomiting-diarrhoea outbreak has left more than 1,400 people unwell and at least 8 dead, as per officials.
The incident has led to a major public-health response in the locality, which reported sudden clusters of illness over the past week, leading to medical surveys, hospital admissions, and probe into the source of the contamination.
What does the lab test state?
A laboratory test has now confirmed that the outbreak was escalated by polluted drinking water. Indore Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Madhav Prashad Hasani stated that the report was prepared by a city-based medical college, which found the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura was contaminated.
What does the Health Department data show?
As per Health Department data, in the last eight days, 272 patients have been admitted to hospitals, out of whom 201 are still being treated, and 71 have been discharged, as reported by PTI. As of present, 32 patients are being treated in intensive care units. A survey of 1,714 households covered 8,571 residents; 338 people with mild symptoms have received primary treatment at home.
What actions have been taken so far?
Indore Collector Shivam Verma stated to ANI that the initial report points toward contaminated water and that teams were going door-to-door to identify symptomatic residents. He mentioned that the chlorine tablets were being distributed across the area and that the situation was being closely monitored.
Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey stated to ANI that the entire pipeline network in Bahgirathpura is being checked for further leakage. Clean water is now being supplied through the main line, but residents have been advised to boil tap water before drinking. Fresh samples have been collected for testing, and Dubey added that a standard operating procedure (SOP) on preventing such incidents will be issued for the whole state.
Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya stated that “micro-checking is underway across the entire colony, and it will take 8 to 10 days, ” as quoted by ANI. He mentioned that a total of eight deaths have been reported. He further stated that two to three appear to be natural deaths, and the final classification will be based on medical reports.
NHRC notice and key developments so far
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident after the reports that residents have complained about the dirty water, but no action was taken. The Commission has issued a notice to Madhya Pradesh, asking for a detailed report within two weeks on the contamination, deaths and the remedial measures.
Key developments so far-
1. At least 8 deaths have been linked to the outbreak till now.
2. In terms of confirmed cases, more than 1,400 people are affected, with 272 admitted since the outbreak.
3. Door-to door health survey of 1,714 households.
4. CM orders free treatment, refunds of hospital payments, and plans a statewide SOP on water safety.
5. Lab reports confirm contaminated drinking water as the trigger.
