Indore declares epidemic after drinking water turns killer; central teams step in

Indore

• Indore declares Bhagirathpura waterborne disease outbreak an epidemic after 10 die
• Expert teams deployed to trace contamination source and contain further spread
• Tankers supply clean water; borewells and tanks get mandatory chlorination.

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Indore’s health administration has officially declared the severe waterborne disease outbreak in the Bhagirathpura locality an epidemic, following the confirmation of 10 fatalities linked to the crisis.

The announcement marks a formal escalation in response as state and national expert teams are now deployed to contain the spread and identify the precise source of contamination, TOI reported.

Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Madhav Hasani clarified that the epidemic declaration follows the reporting of cases significantly exceeding usual numbers for the area. According to his statement, specialised national teams are currently analysing local survey data to determine whether the contamination originated from a single point or multiple sources.

To coordinate the intensive response, District Collector Shivam Verma chaired a high-level meeting on Sunday with a specialised task force. The team, as reported by TOI, includes scientists Dr Pramit Ghosh and Dr Gautam Chaudhary from the ICMR-National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections in Kolkata, Dr Anubhav from the National Centre for Disease Control and epidemiology experts from the State Surveillance Team in Bhopal.

These experts have begun collecting random water samples using advanced methods to isolate the specific bacterial strains responsible.

In a bid to manage the crisis with granular precision, the administration has divided the entire Bhagirathpura area into 32 separate beats. Collector Verma explained that dedicated teams in each beat are working directly with residents to enforce mandatory chlorination of all government and private borewells.

Residents have received explicit instructions to completely drain and clean underground storage tanks, known locally as hoj, followed by professional chlorination before they can be reused.

The Narmada water supply to the affected zone remains suspended and will only be restored after the expert team certifies the pipeline network as fully decontaminated, Verma confirmed. As an interim measure, the administration is continuing to supply clean drinking water via tankers while health workers distribute liquid chlorine drops door-to-door.

Addressing widespread public concern, the Collector directly dismissed rumours linking the outbreak to Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a serious neurological disorder. He stated unequivocally that no cases of GBS had been identified in the city in connection with the current crisis.

The administrative response now extends beyond the epicentre. Multi-departmental teams are conducting extensive house-to-house surveys, with random water sampling expanded to other areas of the city from where complaints have been registered.

Verma reportedly assured that all affected patients are receiving free treatment, including necessary medications and injections, at various hospitals under the supervision of specialist doctors brought in from neighbouring districts.

The situation remains critical as Indore awaits the forensic findings of the scientific teams, whose conclusions will dictate the long-term remediation strategy for the city’s water safety.