TNI Bureau: Indore, often ranked as India’s cleanest city, has begun 2026 facing a serious public health emergency after contaminated municipal drinking water caused a large diarrhoea outbreak in the Bhagirathpura area.

The crisis started in mid-December 2025 when residents of Bhagirathpura, a densely populated locality with nearly 15,000 people, complained of foul-smelling, bitter-tasting and discoloured tap water. Despite repeated complaints to civic authorities, the water supply continued.

Within days, hundreds of residents who consumed the water fell ill with vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and dehydration. Hospitals and clinics in the city reported a sudden surge in patients, prompting emergency health surveys and laboratory investigations.

Tests later confirmed that drinking water had been contaminated due to a leakage in a municipal pipeline, which allowed sewage to mix with the potable water supply. The city’s Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) said bacterial contamination was detected, pointing to a failure in water infrastructure.

According to official data, more than 1,400 people have fallen ill so far, and at least four deaths have been confirmed by the health department. However, the Indore mayor has indicated receiving information about up to 10 deaths, while local residents claim the toll could be as high as 15, including a six-month-old infant. Authorities have not yet verified these higher figures, raising concerns over transparency.

Health experts warn that sewage-contaminated water can rapidly spread diseases such as acute gastroenteritis, cholera, typhoid and dysentery, especially in densely populated areas dependent on municipal water. Symptoms reported in Indore include severe diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fever and dehydration. Infants, the elderly and people with weak immunity are most at risk of serious complications.

Health agencies have advised residents to boil drinking water, use water purifiers or bottled water, maintain hand hygiene, and seek immediate medical help in cases of high fever, blood in stool or signs of severe dehydration.

The outbreak has exposed serious gaps in urban water safety and monitoring, highlighting that even cities known for cleanliness remain vulnerable to infrastructure failures. The incident has renewed calls for regular water quality testing, timely repairs and faster civic response to prevent such deadly outbreaks in the future.