The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday raised serious questions over the state government’s findings in the Indore water contamination tragedy, asking what scientific basis was used to conclude that only 16 of the 23 reported deaths in the Bhagirathpura area were caused by contaminated water.
Hearing a batch of petitions, a Division Bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi observed that the situation had created widespread panic, with people increasingly unsure about the safety of drinking water in the city.
Court seeks clarity on government’s conclusions
The state government informed the court that 23 deaths had occurred, of which 16 were confirmed to be linked to water contamination, while five cases were still under review. Questioning this classification, Justice Shukla asked how the government arrived at such a definitive conclusion.
“The fact remains, out of 23, according to you, 16 is confirmed. What is the basis of this? Whose report is it? Who has come to this conclusion?” the court asked, noting the lack of clarity in the submissions.
‘Verbal autopsy’ term draws sharp remarks
Additional Advocate General Rahul Sethi told the court that the findings were based on case sheets and so-called “verbal autopsy” details provided by the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO). This prompted strong observations from the Bench, with Justice Shukla stating that the term “verbal autopsy” was unfamiliar and misleading.
The state later clarified that it referred to documentation based on statements from attendants of the deceased, adding that the correct term should have been “verbal information” and not autopsy. The court, however, pointed out that the word autopsy implies a postmortem examination, which did not appear to have been conducted in all cases.
Panic over water safety acknowledged
Senior Advocate Ajay Bagadia, appearing for the petitioners, argued that even the authorities seemed uncertain about the exact cause of death in several cases. The court echoed these concerns, stressing that the basis of such a “certain” report must be clearly established.
Justice Shukla also referred to reports of water contamination in nearby Mhow, calling the situation alarming. He said the fear was so widespread that he personally verified and ensured cleaning of the High Court’s water tank, reflecting the level of public anxiety.
The state government has been directed to submit a detailed report within three days, explaining the cause of death in all 23 cases based on postmortem reports and medical records.