Contaminated Drinking Water: A disturbing incident has emerged from Indore—often hailed as India’s cleanest city—casting serious doubts over this claim. In the Bhagirathpura area, contaminated drinking water claimed the life of five-month-old Avyaan. The same water that his mother used to dilute milk turned fatal for the infant.
A Mother’s Care, System’s Negligence
Avyaan’s father, Sunil Sahu, said his son had developed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea a few days earlier. The family immediately took him to a pediatrician and administered medicines at home as advised. During this period, the baby was fed packaged milk, which was diluted using tap water supplied by the municipal corporation. No one suspected that the water, meant to be safe for drinking, was actually spreading disease.
Condition Worsened, Infant Loses the Battle
According to Sunil Sahu, the baby’s condition deteriorated after consuming milk mixed with contaminated water. The vomiting and diarrhea intensified, and on December 29, the five-month-old succumbed. For the family, it was not just the loss of a child, but a complete breakdown of trust in the system.
Over a Thousand Affected in One Area
As per official data, more than 1,100 people in the Bhagirathpura area have been affected by vomiting and diarrhea in the past week alone. Around 150 patients had to be hospitalized. The situation has become so severe that local hospitals are under immense pressure.
Initial Probe Reveals Major Lapse
Preliminary investigations by the administration have revealed that leakage in the drinking water pipeline allowed sewage water from a drain to mix with the supply. This contamination is believed to be the primary reason for the rapid spread of illness in the area. An investigation is underway to determine how and when this negligence occurred.
Conflicting Claims Over Death Toll
Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava has so far confirmed seven deaths due to contaminated water. However, local residents claim that at least nine people have died in Bhagirathpura over the past week, including a six-month-old child and six women. The administration has not yet made the identities of the deceased public.
