Indore's contaminated drinking water issue will be judicially investigated, commission formed (file photo)
JNN, Indore. Now a judicial inquiry will be conducted into the case of 29 deaths and more than 3300 people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water in Bhagirathpura area of Indore city. For this, a judicial inquiry commission of retired High Court judge Sushil Kumar Gupta has been constituted. This commission will have to submit its interim report before the Indore bench of the High Court within four weeks.
The next hearing in the case will be on March 5, 2026. In fact, after hearing five PILs in the Bhagirathpura contaminated water case, the High Court had reserved its order, which was released late on Tuesday evening. While issuing orders for a judicial inquiry, the High Court said that it is necessary to get the matter investigated by an independent and impartial commission, so that the reality can be ascertained.
The court has asked the district administration, municipal corporation, PHE and pollution control board to provide full cooperation in the investigation and provide necessary records and information. This judicial commission will investigate the reasons for water contamination in Bhagirathpura, the actual number of deaths, the corporation's claims of providing clean water and other points. Office, staff and transportation facilities will be provided to the Commission by the government.
Questions raised on death audit report
On Tuesday, the hearing lasted for about two and a quarter hours in the High Court. During this, many questions were raised on the death audit report presented by the government. The report said that of the 23 deaths analyzed so far, 16 were caused by contaminated water. The cause of three deaths is unclear, while four deaths are due to other diseases.
. On this, the court raised the question that without post-mortem, it was decided that only 16 deaths were due to contaminated water. How did this committee reach these 16 deaths? What were the grounds for this conclusion?
To this the CMHO replied that verbal autopsy was done. When the court asked what verbal autopsy was, they started looking around. The petitioners also raised questions on the committee formed by the government for death audit.
Senior advocate Ajay Bagadiya said that the committee formed was also made up of a government medical professor, so how can the report be considered correct. On this the court said that it should be clear as to what caused the deaths. What is the concrete reason behind accepting this and what is the concrete reason behind not accepting the deaths which were not attributed to contaminated water.
Court expressed concern, said- it is a dangerous situation
The court said during the hearing that the situation is very dangerous. As soon as we got information about Bhagirathpura case, we got the water tank of the High Court examined. There are reports of contaminated water from Mhow also. The government should ensure that the public gets clean and safe water, but this is not happening.
One more death, figure reaches 29
Another death occurred in Bhagirathpura on Tuesday due to contaminated drinking water. Now the death toll has reached 29. Wrestler Khubchand (75) died on Tuesday morning. According to relatives, Khubchand was suffering from vomiting and diarrhea for the last 15 days. Took to Primary Health Center Bhagirathpura, but was given medicines and sent home. In the evening he suddenly vomited and his breathing stopped.
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