A six-month-old baby from Marathi Mohalla in the Bhagirathpura area of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has died allegedly after consuming contaminated drinking water, triggering widespread outrage among residents and sharp criticism of civic authorities.
The deceased infant, the son of Sadhna Sahu, reportedly fell ill after being fed milk mixed with water supplied to the household. According to the family, the baby developed severe vomiting and diarrhoea soon after.
Infant falls ill after consuming water
Sadhna Sahu said her child was first taken to a government hospital and later shifted to a private facility as his condition worsened. Despite treatment, doctors declared him dead.
“My child is gone… who knows how many more innocent lives will be lost,” she said, breaking down. The infant was born after nearly ten years of prayers, the family said.
Sahu alleged that residents had been receiving “dirty, canal-like water” for days and that repeated complaints to the civic authorities went unanswered.
Wider contamination scare in Indore
The infant’s death comes amid a major water contamination scare in the Bhagirathpura belt of Indore. Officials said 149 patients are currently undergoing treatment across 27 hospitals in the city for suspected water-borne illnesses.
At least eight deaths have been reported so far in connection with the outbreak, with those affected ranging from young children to elderly residents.
Sahu also claimed that her 10-year-old daughter has now started complaining of stomach pain, which the family fears may be linked to contaminated water.
Residents accuse civic body of negligence
Residents of the area have accused the Indore Municipal Corporation of prolonged negligence, alleging that complaints were ignored for several days despite visible deterioration in water quality.
Public anger intensified after reports emerged that sewer bacteria had been detected in the water supply, raising serious questions about monitoring and maintenance of pipelines.
Government action and relief announced
Taking cognisance of the situation, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has ordered strict action against erring officials. The municipal corporation has suspended a zonal officer and an assistant engineer pending an inquiry.
The state government has announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased.
Meanwhile, the health department has intensified chlorination in affected localities, and water tankers have been deployed to supply safe drinking water.
The tragedy has renewed calls for urgent infrastructure repairs and accountability to prevent further loss of innocent lives.