At least nine people have died in Indore, India, following a diarrhea outbreak linked to contaminated drinking water, according to international news reports. Over 200 residents have been hospitalized after consuming polluted water.
Indian Member of Parliament Kailash Vijayvargiya confirmed that the deaths were caused by the contaminated supply. Indore’s Chief Medical Officer, Madhav Prasad Hassani, explained that water in the Bhagirathpura area became polluted due to a leakage in a local pipeline. Laboratory tests confirmed bacterial contamination in the affected pipeline.
While the exact death toll is still being verified, more than 200 residents from the impacted area are receiving treatment in various hospitals across the city. Final lab reports on water quality are still pending.
District Administrative Officer Shravan Verma said medical teams have been deployed for door-to-door screening, and chlorine tablets are being distributed to purify water. Authorities have also identified and repaired the leakage in the pipeline to prevent further contamination. According to Verma, a total of 8,571 people have been screened so far, with 338 exhibiting mild symptoms related to the outbreak.
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Despite this incident, it is notable that Indore has been recognized as India’s cleanest city for eight consecutive years, consistently topping national cleanliness rankings. The outbreak highlights the urgent need for proper maintenance and monitoring of public water systems to ensure safe drinking water for residents.
