Why doctors fear Indore’s water crisis could cause long-term nervous system damage

Indore

• Over 1,400 sick and 12 dead in Indore due to contaminated water outbreak
• Doctors worry about lasting nerve damage, including Guillain-Barre Syndrome cases.
• Indore officials deny water connection to neurological illness

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The drinking water contamination crisis in Bhagirathpura area of Indore, officially known as India’s cleanest city, has taken a new turn. Now, doctors fear the outbreak may have caused not just stomach-related illness but serious and long-term damage to the nervous system.

Over a dozen people have already died after consuming contaminated water, while more than 1,400 residents have fallen sick. Many are still undergoing treatment in hospitals.

A 67-year-old woman, Parvati Bai Kondla, has shown symptoms of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare but serious neurological condition in which the body’s immune system attacks its own nerves.

Parvati is currently on a ventilator and is undergoing dialysis due to kidney failure. Doctors say her nervous system is failing rapidly. She first fell ill on the night of December 27 after experiencing vomiting and severe loose motions. The next day, she was admitted to a private hospital in Indore, but her condition worsened quickly.

Within days, Parvati began losing strength in her limbs. Her reflexes disappeared, and she was unable to breathe without support. She was shifted to Bombay Hospital in Indore on January 2 for advanced treatment.

A Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) conducted at Alpha Brain Study Centre revealed acute nerve damage. The test showed reduced muscle response in both legs, absence of sensory nerve signals, and missing nerve reflexes. Doctors said the pattern clearly pointed to acute inflammatory nerve damage and not age-related degeneration.

A senior neurologist from AIIMS explained that this kind of nerve damage develops suddenly and is often triggered by infections, toxins, or immune reactions. “In the context of a water contamination outbreak, this is medically very serious and deeply worrying,” the neurologist was quoted by NDTV as saying.

What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome?

Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder that often follows gastrointestinal or viral infections. In this condition, the immune system mistakenly attacks the nerves, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and in severe cases, failure of breathing muscles.

Around 10% of patients with GBS may die, while many survivors are left with long-term disability. Treatment involves intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) injections, each costing around Rs 30,000. Patients usually need between five and ten doses, pushing the total cost to Rs 10-15 lakh. For families already affected by illness, loss of work, and medical expenses, this financial burden is overwhelming.

Authorities deny direct link

Despite medical findings, the state health administration has denied any confirmed link between the contaminated water and the neurological condition. Indore Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Madhav Hasnani said GBS can be caused by many factors, including viral infections. He added that a single test is not enough for diagnosis and claimed that no official report has been received.

However, Parvati’s treating doctor, Dr Rahul Karode, said she was admitted with acute gastroenteritis, kidney injury, and dangerously low blood pressure. “Loose motions improved but reflexes were diminished. NCS showed changes consistent with GBS. We referred her because our hospital does not have advanced facilities. We informed the administration as per instructions,” NDTV quoted Dr Karode as saying.

Public health experts say the situation in Bhagirathpura has gone far beyond a routine diarrhoeal outbreak. Amulya Nidhi, a community health expert associated with Jan Swasthya Abhiyan India, said the crisis now shows neurological, immunological, and psychological effects, indicating severe contamination.

He pointed to a 2019 CAG report that recorded over 5.45 lakh waterborne disease cases in Bhopal and Indore alone. He also highlighted that the state government had taken a USD 200 million loan from the Asian Development Bank for water management, which required regular water quality testing and audits every 15 days.

Nidhi demanded that the health department make district-wise data on waterborne diseases public and ensure strict monitoring of water sources.

Meanwhile, the health administration in Indore on Sunday declared the waterborne disease outbreak an epidemic, calling in specialised teams from the Central and state govts to contain the spread and identify the root cause of contamination.