A deadly outbreak of waterborne disease has struck a shocking blow to India's reputedly cleanest city, leaving at least ten people dead and hundreds more in hospital.
Outbreak in a Clean City Champion
The crisis unfolded in the densely populated Bhagirathpura area of Indore, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, which has held the title of India's cleanest city for eight consecutive years. Since late December, over 1,000 residents have reported severe symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting.
City mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava confirmed on Friday, 2 January 2026, that at least 10 deaths have been reported due to the outbreak. However, local reports suggest the toll may be higher, a discrepancy not yet clarified by the health department.
Source of Contamination Identified
Laboratory reports from a local medical college pinpointed the cause: drinking water was contaminated by a leak in a main supply pipeline. The leak was detected near a police outpost in Bhagirathpura, at a location where a toilet had been constructed directly over the water line.
"We have found one leakage point that could have contaminated the water and that point has been fixed," stated district officer Shravan Verma. He added that officials had screened over 8,500 people, identifying 338 with mild symptoms.
Hospitals Stretched as Response Intensifies
The human cost of the failure is severe. Indore's chief medical officer, Madhav Prasad Hasani, told Reuters that over 200 people from the locality were undergoing treatment across city hospitals.
A health department official provided a detailed breakdown: by Thursday night, 272 patients had been admitted, with 71 discharged. Of the 201 remaining in hospital, 32 were being treated in intensive care units.
Authorities have deployed medical teams for door-to-door screening and are distributing chlorine tablets to purify water. The Madhya Pradesh High Court intervened, ordering the municipal corporation to supply additional water tankers to the affected area urgently.
Justice Dwarkadhish Bansal emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating, "This is big news. If people are dying because of the water, then this is wrong… Keep upholding the beauty of Indore."
