At least seven people have died, and over 160 have been hospitalised in Madhya Pradesh‘s Indore district after tap water was reportedly contaminated with sewer water, prompting the state administration to step up emergency measures. The probe has found that a toilet was built directly above a main drinking water pipeline near a police outpost, without the required safety tank. This allowed sewage water to leak into the drinking water supply, The Indian Express reported.
‘We were mixing milk with tap water and giving to him’: Father of infant who died
Bhagirathpur resident Sunil Sahu told PTI that his six-month-old son, Avyan, died on December 29 after suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhoea, which he believes were caused by contaminated tap water. Sahu and the family had bought thick milk from the market and were diluting it at home. “We bought milk from the market and started feeding it to him…we were mixing it with the water that comes through the municipal corporation’s tap connection,” he said.
Local residents claim that nine people, including a six-month-old child and six women, lost their lives within a week after falling ill. Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava has confirmed seven deaths so far but has not shared names, as reported by PTI.
Speaking about his 50-year old sister Seema, Jitendra Prajapat stated to the Indian Express, “My sister suddenly started suffering from vomiting and diarhoea and we did not get a chance to handle the situation. She did on the way to hospital…..One moment she was at home, the next she was gone. “
Another victim, Manjulata also became ill when she was cooking and died within hours, leaving behind her husband and five daughters. Her husband Digambar told the Indian Express, “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.”
Officials stated more than 1,100 residents have reported having some form of vomiting or diarrhoea in recent days, as reported by PTI.
What led to the contamination of water?
Investigators have now brought up serious faults in the local infrastructure. The Indore Municipal Corporation’s probe has found out that a toilet had been built directly above a main drinking water pipeline near a police outpost and that a mandatory safety tank beneath it had not been constructed.
Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dilip Kumar has confirmed this to the Indian Express, “ We have found that in case of the construction of the toilet, no safety tank was constructed beneath it. We are investigating the other lapses” .
What actions are the authorities taking now?
Authorities have also moved to take action against officials over the lapses, with the water supply assistant engineer suspended, the sub-engineer has been removed from his post and the zonal officer suspended for failing to ensure proper coordination.
Indore Municpal Corpoaration Comissioner Dilip Kumar stated to the Indian Express that the zonal officer was held responsible because he was expected to oversee overall condition in the area. He further added that a leak in the main pipeline, together with the toilet built directly over it , had led to mix of sewage in to the drinking water. Kumar stated that the officials have spotted several chambers intersecting the distribution line and were in the process of diverting them.