Indore Diarrhoea Outbreak Worsens: 20 More Cases Identified

Health authorities in Indore reported that 142 people remain hospitalised, including 11 patients in ICUs, as a diarrhoea outbreak triggered by contaminated drinking water continues in the city. Officials said 20 new cases were detected during screening in Bhagirathpura, the epicentre of the outbreak.

Medical teams screened 9,416 residents from 2,354 households in Bhagirathpura and identified fresh infections, officials confirmed on Sunday (January 4, 2026). The administration has so far recorded six deaths linked to the outbreak.

Officials said 398 patients were admitted to hospitals since the outbreak began, of whom 256 have recovered and been discharged. Authorities maintained that the situation is now under control.

Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. Madhav Prasad Haasani said a team from the National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (NIRBI), Kolkata, has reached Indore to investigate the outbreak and assist local health officials. The institute operates under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

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Health teams screen over 9,400 residents in Bhagirathpura, Indore as authorities report 398 total admissions and six

While the administration confirmed six fatalities, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava claimed 10 deaths, and local residents alleged that 16 people, including a six-month-old infant, died due to contaminated water.

The outbreak sparked political controversy after senior minister Kailash Vijayvargiya used the word “ghanta” while responding to media queries on December 31, triggering protests by the Congress across Madhya Pradesh. The party demanded his resignation, a judicial inquiry, and criminal action against civic officials, including the Indore mayor.

State Congress president Jitu Patwari alleged that residents had complained for eight months about contaminated water supply but received no response. He also claimed tanker water supplied to Bhagirathpura remained unsafe.

Meanwhile, the administration suspended a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) in Dewas for allegedly copying political language from a Congress memorandum into an official order, calling it a case of serious negligence.

Renowned water conservationist Rajendra Singh described the crisis as a “system-created disaster”, blaming corruption and faulty planning. He alleged that contractors laid drinking water pipelines too close to drainage lines, leading to sewage contamination.

Officials admitted that sewage overflow entered water mains, causing severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Indore depends heavily on Narmada River water, transported from Jalud in Khargone district, 80 km away, a project that reportedly costs the municipal corporation ₹25 crore per month in electricity expenses.

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