Indore, January 2, 2026

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Madhya Pradesh government over the deadly water contamination issue in Indore, which has claimed the lives of at least ten people and affected over 1,400 others with diarrhoea and vomiting. Gandhi alleged that poison, rather than potable water, was being distributed to the residents while the administration “slept like Kumbhakarna,” highlighting what he described as a shocking lapse in governance.

In a post on X, the Congress leader wrote, “There was no water in Indore — poison was distributed instead, while the administration slept like Kumbhakarna. Homes are steeped in mourning, the poor are helpless — and on top of that come arrogant statements from BJP leaders. Those whose hearths have gone cold needed consolation; the government served them arrogance instead.”

The Indore Mayor, Pushyamitra Bhargava, confirmed on Friday that the city had received reports of ten deaths due to diarrhoea, which was triggered by contaminated water in the Bhagirathpura area. However, local residents claim the toll is higher, reporting 14 deaths, including that of a six-month-old infant, PTI reported.

Meanwhile, Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) Additional Commissioner Rohit Sisoniya stated that water samples collected four days ago showed bacterial contamination in 26 out of 50 samples. He added that the primary leakage had been identified and resolved, but stressed the ongoing monitoring of water quality to ensure safety for the public.

Gandhi’s Questions to the Authorities

Rahul Gandhi raised pointed questions about the administration’s inaction despite repeated complaints from residents about dirty and foul-smelling water. He asked why the supply of contaminated water was not immediately stopped, whether sewage had mixed with drinking water, and when action would be taken against the responsible officers and political leaders.

According to officials, the contamination originated from a leakage in the main drinking water supply pipeline near a police outpost in Bhagirathpura, at a location where a toilet had been constructed over the pipeline. This lapse led to the mixing of sewage with potable water, triggering the widespread outbreak of diarrhoea. A health department official confirmed that 272 patients were admitted to local hospitals, with 71 discharged after treatment.

Gandhi also criticized Madhya Pradesh BJP minister Kailash Vijayvargiya for making dismissive remarks to a reporter about the water crisis. He emphasized that the questions posed were not “free questions” but demands for accountability from the state administration. Vijayvargiya later issued an apology for his comments.

Madhya Pradesh ‘Epicentre of Misgovernance’

Gandhi painted a broader picture of governance failures in Madhya Pradesh, citing deaths from contaminated cough syrup, newborn deaths from rat bites in hospitals, and now fatalities due to sewage-contaminated water. “And every time the poor die, Modi ji, as always, remains silent,” Gandhi added, underlining his accusation of neglect at the highest levels of government.

Congress leaders have argued that the incident exposes the fragility of environmental and civic oversight. Jairam Ramesh, another senior Congress leader, questioned the credibility of Indore’s claim to being the “cleanest city in India,” in light of the recent deaths. He remarked, “For the past several years, Indore has been receiving the Swachhta award. But look what has happened in the last two or three days – how many people have unfortunately died due to drinking polluted water, contaminated water.”

Ramesh also criticized the weakening of environmental protection laws by the state government, warning that pollution—both air and water—has become a serious public health hazard, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other states. “The truth is, pollution is killing people. Not just air pollution, but water pollution too. Water pollution is also a very serious issue in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, in all the states,” he said.

Local Response and Municipal Efforts

On the ground, the IMC teams, led by Additional Commissioner Sisoniya, have been working to resolve the contamination issue. The municipal corporation collected 50 samples from 32 locations to assess water safety and is continuing to monitor the water supply. Authorities have also advised residents not to drink tap water until testing confirms its safety, instead relying on municipal water tankers and boiling water before consumption.

Sisoniya emphasized that the immediate priority was to identify the leakage, isolate the contaminated supply, and restore safe drinking water. The administration dismantled a toilet that had been built over the pipeline, sealed the leakage, and continued to collect daily water samples to prevent further health risks.

Despite these measures, public outrage continues to grow, fueled by the scale of the outbreak, the number of fatalities, and the perceived slow response of the state government. Local communities have reported that several families are grieving multiple losses, and the healthcare infrastructure has been stretched by the sudden surge in patients suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting.

Political Fallout

The water contamination crisis has rapidly become a political flashpoint, with Congress leaders targeting the BJP-led state government for mismanagement and negligence. Rahul Gandhi’s remarks that “poison was distributed” have drawn significant media attention and intensified the political debate around public safety and accountability.

The opposition has also used the incident to highlight broader issues of urban governance, sanitation, and environmental regulation. The Congress has framed the issue as symptomatic of systemic failures, arguing that water safety, environmental protection, and public health are being compromised in the pursuit of political image and awards, such as Indore’s Swachhta recognition.

Moving Forward

Authorities in Indore are ramping up health monitoring and continuous water testing while coordinating with municipal and health departments to prevent further casualties. Hospitals are on high alert, and local officials are distributing clean drinking water through tankers while urging residents to boil water before consumption.

The tragedy in Bhagirathpura underscores the vulnerability of urban infrastructure to contamination, the importance of proactive governance, and the urgent need for accountability among public officials. As investigations continue, questions remain about how the water supply pipeline became compromised and why warnings from residents were not acted upon earlier.

As of now, the death toll stands at 10, with over 1,400 affected. Political, administrative, and health authorities are under pressure to contain the outbreak, provide relief to affected families, and ensure that such lapses in public water safety do not recur.

The Indore water contamination crisis, with its tragic loss of life and massive public health implications, has become a national issue, highlighting the urgent need for robust infrastructure, regulatory oversight, and responsive governance in India’s cities.