Indore water contamination: Probe confirms 'sewer bacteria' in supply that killed 9; over 200 still hospitalised

The death has occurred against the backdrop of a wider contamination scare in the Bhagirathpura belt of the city

• Contaminated water in Indore kills 9, sickens over 200 in Bhagirathpura.
• Bacteria from sewage found in drinking water; inquiry and medical aid underway
• State minister provided Rs 2 lakh compensation to affected families

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A heavy silence has settled over Bhagirathpura, a densely populated area of Indore, as residents struggle to cope with a major health crisis caused by contaminated drinking water.

Meanwhile, initial reports from an inquiry have confirmed the presence of bacteria “generally found in sewer water” in drinking water samples, Hindustan Times reported.

So far, at least nine people have lost their lives, while more than 200 residents from Bhagirathpura are undergoing treatment in at least 27 hospitals.

“The initial report has confirmed the presence of abnormal bacteria generally found in sewer water comprising human waste. However, we are yet to identify the bacteria as the culture report of bacteria is awaited. The report of stool tests of affected patients has not been received yet — that will also make it clear,” Indore-based Mahatma Gandhi Medical College’s dean Dr Arvind Ghanghoria said.

Earlier, the officials had said that the outbreak was triggered by a serious lapse in sanitation work near local police check post. A toilet built at the site did not have a proper septic tank. Instead, waste water was diverted into a pit constructed above the main drinking water supply line. When the pit started leaking, sewage mixed with the water pipeline running beneath it, contaminating the water supplied to the area.

As Madhya Pradesh government officials worked on Thursday to fix responsibility, improve medical facilities and flush and disinfect the water supply system, scenes of heartbreak continued to unfold in Bhagirathpura.

The locality is largely deserted, with only a few people seen near makeshift medical camps. Most families have been rushing between hospitals since Monday night, when people began falling sick with severe diarrhoea, vomiting and high fever.

Sadhana Sahu, a teacher at a private school, sat outside her home, crying inconsolably. She lost her six-month-old son, Abhyan, to the illness. “He was born 10 years after our daughter. Now my child is no more,” she was quoted by TOI as saying.

Her husband, Sunil Sahu, who works from home for an internet company, said their son first developed diarrhoea and fever on December 26.

“We took him to a doctor and gave him the medicines. He seemed fine for the next two days. Then on Monday, he suddenly developed a high fever, started vomiting and died at home. We did not even get time to take him to a hospital,” he said.

Sadhana believes contaminated water caused her child’s death. “I mixed the water with his milk. After that, his condition worsened,” TOI quoted her as saying.

Crying and mourning could be heard from several homes in the locality. Bhagirathpura, home to around 15,000 people from mostly economically weaker sections, has been badly affected. Almost every household has at least one member suffering from symptoms of the illness, TOI reported.

Alguram Yadav, a resident of Borasi ki Gali, said his 65-year-old wife, Urmila, died on Sunday. His son Sanju, daughter-in-law Roshini and 11-month-old grandson Shivam are currently admitted to hospitals with similar symptoms. “We earn very little and barely survive. Nobody had turned up to help, though some officials visited,” he said.

He added that state minister Kailash Vijayvargiya visited the area and handed over a cheque of Rs 2 lakh as compensation to affected families, as announced by the chief minister.