Indore’s water crisis deepens as illnesses rise, lives lost
Six patients were referred for advanced care, while 110 remain hospitalized, including 15 fighting for life in intensive care.
At least 38 new cases of vomiting and diarrhoea linked to contaminated drinking water were reported on Monday, January 5, 2026, at the Bhagirathpura primary health centre in Indore, deepening an already alarming public health crisis in the city. With these latest cases, the situation has grown more serious, as officials confirmed that the death toll has now risen to seven.
Health authorities said the patients reported symptoms ranging from severe diarrhoea and vomiting to dehydration and weakness. Many of those affected are residents of densely populated neighbourhoods, where access to clean drinking water has long been a concern. For families living in these areas, the outbreak has turned everyday activities like drinking a glass of water into a source of fear and anxiety.
According to officials, six patients have been referred to higher medical centres for specialised treatment, while 110 people are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals across Indore. Of these, 15 patients are in intensive care units, where doctors are closely monitoring their condition. Hospital staff described the past few days as exhausting, with emergency wards under pressure and doctors working extended hours to stabilise patients.
“The priority is to save lives and prevent further spread,” a senior health official said, adding that teams are ensuring adequate supplies of medicines, intravenous fluids and testing kits. Medical personnel have been instructed to remain on alert, particularly in government hospitals that are seeing the highest inflow of patients.
The outbreak has been linked to contaminated drinking water, though a full investigation is still underway to identify the exact source of contamination. Officials suspect leakage or mixing of sewage with water pipelines in certain localities. Water samples have been collected and sent for laboratory testing, and authorities have begun flushing pipelines and supplying alternative water through tankers in the worst-affected areas.
For residents, the crisis has brought both grief and anger. Families of the deceased are struggling to come to terms with sudden losses, while others worry about vulnerable members such as children and the elderly. “We never imagined water could kill,” said a local resident whose neighbour is currently hospitalised. “Now everyone is scared.”
The civic administration has urged people to boil drinking water and avoid consuming food or water from unsafe sources. Public announcements and door-to-door awareness drives have been launched to spread precautionary messages, especially in high-risk zones.
As Indore battles this outbreak, the tragedy has once again highlighted the fragile state of urban water infrastructure and the human cost of neglect. For the families affected, the numbers tell only part of the story — behind each case is a household grappling with fear, loss and an urgent hope that the crisis will soon be brought under control.