MP HC Asks State Govt How Did Water Contamination in Indore 'Become So Severe' to Result in Deaths

Representing the petitioners, senior advocate Ajay Bagadia told the court that even after the tragedy, authorities had failed to determine the cause. However, the state submitted that the source of contamination was a public toilet, which was traced and demolished.

The Wire Staff

mp hc asks state govt how did water contamination in indore become so severe to result in deaths

A civic worker during restoration work of Narmada water pipelines in the aftermath of deaths caused by consumption of allegedly contaminated water, in the Bhagirathpura area of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: The Madhya Pradesh high court on Tuesday (January 20) asked the state government how the water contamination in Indore had “become so severe” that it resulted in human fatalities. While hearing a string of petitions in connection with the crisis, a bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi questioned the state’s handling of the issue, reported Hindustan Times.

“On what basis has it been found that it became so contaminated that it resulted in casualties? Is there any report?… [Is it] on the basis of some expert’s report?” the court asked the state government on Tuesday.

Justice Shukla said on Tuesday that the problem raised serious concerns about urban infrastructure.

“This joint pipeline of sewage and water supply is not new in the city. We have noticed it all over, in all major towns. We don’t know why it has been done by the local authorities or by the government, but why has it become so severe here – this contamination – which proved fatal for human life?” the court asked.

The court asked on what basis the state was making the conclusion about the source.

“There are 51 tube wells which have been identified as having contaminated water. The water was tested, and there are water testing reports which actually reflect that E. coli was present,” chief secretary Anurag Jain told the court.

An audit report prepared by a committee of the government-run Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College showed that the deaths of at least 15 could be linked to the outbreak in some manner. Residents of Bhagirathpura have claimed that 24 persons have died so far of a vomiting and diarrhoea outbreak.

This article went live on January twenty-first, two thousand twenty six, at forty-seven minutes past three in the afternoon.

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