Indore Water Crisis: Official Toll at 4, Compensation Paid for 20 Deaths
Official toll acknowledged at four, but local records and payouts point to 20 deaths in Bhagirathpura contamination crisis.
- Families and local records peg death toll at 20 in Bhagirathpura
- State officially acknowledges only four deaths so far
- ₹2 lakh compensation cheques distributed to 20 families
- Fresh sewage-mixed water leaks trigger new health scare
GG News Bureau
Indore, 8th Jan: Deaths linked to contaminated drinking water in Bhagirathpura, Indore, continued to spark controversy on Wednesday, with local records and families placing the toll at 20, even as the Madhya Pradesh government has officially acknowledged only four deaths in the status report submitted to the High Court.
The confusion intensified after the district administration distributed ₹2 lakh compensation cheques to 18 families, while two additional names — Ramkali Jagdish and Shravan Natyu Khuprao — were added on Wednesday, taking the compensation count to 20 families. Officials said that every reported death is being verified before financial assistance is released, even as the official fatality figure remains lower.
Responding to the growing outcry, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said the government would not “get into statistics” when it came to human loss. “The death of even a single person is painful for us. Those who have registered will be provided relief. The administration has its own methods, but the government stands with everyone,” he said.
Speaking at the BJP state office, Yadav clarified that deaths are currently being counted based on post-mortem reports, but stressed that the final number is yet to be confirmed. “Death registration is also done through the municipal corporation. Whatever number comes to light, the state government will provide relief to the families of the deceased,” he added.
District officials maintained that only a limited number of deaths can be conclusively linked to water contamination at this stage. “Although six people have died, wherever a death is reported it is being verified and assistance is being provided,” an official said, acknowledging the gap between medical classification and compensation payouts.
Meanwhile, ground conditions in Bhagirathpura remain precarious. Shortly after the Narmada water supply was restored, leakage from drainage lines led to flooding in parts of the colony. Shops were inundated and residents complained of sewage-mixed water entering their premises, forcing authorities to shut down the Narmada supply once again.
Health facilities continue to report new cases of illness. Between Wednesday morning and 2 pm alone, 18 patients reported diarrhoea at the local primary health centre, with six referred for hospital treatment.
As the Madhya Pradesh High Court monitors the crisis, the widening gap between official figures and compensation data, coupled with repeated failures in the water supply network, has raised fresh questions over transparency, accountability and the state’s preparedness to manage a public health emergency.
