Indore, January 2, 2026

Amid growing concerns over contaminated drinking water in parts of Indore, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) on Friday confirmed that laboratory reports of water samples collected earlier this week showed bacterial contamination in more than half of the tested samples. Senior civic officials said corrective measures were underway on a war footing to resolve the issue and restore safe water supply to affected localities, particularly the Bhagirathpura area.

IMC Additional Commissioner Rohit Sisoniya said that reports of samples collected four days ago revealed contamination in 26 out of 50 water samples, indicating the presence of harmful bacteria. The samples were taken from multiple points across the affected area as part of an investigation into complaints of foul-smelling and potentially unsafe water being supplied through municipal pipelines.

“The report of the samples sent four days ago showed contamination. The contamination, which indicates the presence of bacteria, was found in 26 out of 50 samples,” Sisoniya said while addressing the media. He added that the civic body had already taken immediate corrective steps at the primary source of contamination identified near a police outpost in Bhagirathpura.

According to the Additional Commissioner, the municipal teams detected a leakage in the water pipeline near the police outpost, which was believed to be the main cause of contamination. “Primarily, we have resolved the problem which was reported near the police outpost and sealed the leakage there on a priority basis. We have also dismantled the toilet built there. The leakage has been resolved,” he said.

Officials explained that the proximity of the damaged pipeline to the toilet structure had raised serious concerns about sewage mixing with the drinking water supply, prompting swift action by the municipal corporation. The toilet was dismantled as a preventive measure to avoid any future contamination risk.

Sisoniya said that even after addressing the identified leakage, the IMC continued to adopt a cautious approach by conducting further testing. “We have collected samples of the water today as well for testing, and water supply will continue only after the report arrives,” he said, underlining that public safety remained the administration’s top priority.

Elaborating on the scale of the response, the Additional Commissioner said that the civic body had collected water samples from 32 different locations in and around Bhagirathpura. “We collected 50 samples from 32 places, and our teams have been working continuously, day and night, to quickly restore the water lines and ensure safe supply,” he said.

Municipal officials have been stationed in the area round the clock to monitor repair work, collect samples, and interact with residents. Sisoniya said the primary focus of the teams was to identify faults in the pipeline network, detect leakages, and eliminate all possible sources of contamination. “Our main priority was to identify the fault and the leakage, and we have been continuously testing the water and taking samples,” he said.

To further ensure safety, the IMC collected another set of 50 samples on Friday for testing. The results of these samples will determine when normal water supply for drinking purposes can be resumed. “Our main objective is to quickly restore the water lines and begin supplying water so people can be confident that the water is safe to drink,” Sisoniya added.

In the meantime, the civic body has issued advisories urging residents not to use tap water for drinking purposes until further notice. Public announcements are being made repeatedly in the affected localities to spread awareness about the precautionary measures.

“We are making round-the-clock announcements advising people to boil the water before drinking it,” Sisoniya said. “We have informed people not to use supply water for drinking purposes today as samples were collected for testing. They may use water for cleaning purposes, but they should not use it for drinking until the administration officially informs them that it is safe.”

To address the immediate needs of residents, the IMC has deployed water tankers in the area to provide safe drinking water. “For alternative arrangements, our tankers are stationed there round the clock. We request people to use the tanker water for drinking purposes and boil the water as much as possible before consumption,” the Additional Commissioner said.

Residents of Bhagirathpura have expressed concern over the situation, with many relying entirely on tanker water for drinking and cooking. Some locals said they had complained of foul smell and discoloured water over the past several days, prompting the municipal corporation to intensify inspections and testing.

Civic officials said that once the latest test reports are received and confirm that the water is free from contamination, normal drinking water supply will be restored in phases. Until then, strict monitoring will continue, and additional samples will be taken if required.

The IMC has assured residents that there is no cause for panic but urged them to strictly follow the advisory issued by the administration. Officials reiterated that boiling water before consumption and relying on tanker supply for drinking purposes were essential precautionary steps until the situation is fully normalised.

As the city grapples with the contamination issue, the municipal corporation said it would also conduct a broader review of pipeline infrastructure in the area to prevent similar incidents in the future. Officials indicated that ageing pipelines, unauthorised constructions near water lines, and leakages would be identified and addressed as part of a long-term preventive strategy.

For now, the focus remains on restoring public confidence and ensuring that safe, potable water reaches every household in Bhagirathpura at the earliest, officials said.