Daijiworld Media Network - Indore
Indore, Jan 28: The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has constituted a one-man commission headed by former High Court judge Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta to probe the alleged drinking water contamination in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area, observing that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority and warrants “urgent judicial scrutiny”.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi passed the order on Tuesday while hearing multiple public interest litigations (PILs) filed over the deaths of several residents reportedly linked to consumption of contaminated water.
The court has directed the commission to submit an interim report within four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
During the hearing, the state government informed the court that an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea over the past month may have led to 16 deaths in Bhagirathpura. The government placed before the bench an audit report of 23 deaths, prepared by a five-member expert committee from Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, which stated that four deaths were unrelated to the outbreak, while the cause of death in three cases remained inconclusive.
The High Court questioned the scientific basis of the report and expressed surprise over the use of the term “verbal autopsy”, remarking that it had heard the term for the first time.
Expressing concern over the “alarming” situation, the court also noted reports of similar illness due to contaminated water in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the High Court observed that the contamination of drinking water allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards, impacting children and elderly residents. It also pointed out that petitioners and media reports suggested the death toll could be around 30, while the government report reflected only 16 fatalities “without any basis or record”.
The commission has been tasked with examining the cause, source and nature of contamination, including possibilities such as sewage mixing, industrial discharge or pipeline damage. It will also ascertain the actual number of deaths, evaluate the medical response, and recommend both immediate remedial steps and long-term reforms to ensure safe drinking water.
The panel will further identify officials found prima facie responsible and suggest guidelines for compensation, especially for vulnerable residents.
The commission has been granted civil court powers to summon witnesses, call for records, order water testing through accredited labs, and conduct spot inspections. The High Court directed all state authorities, including the district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, Public Health Engineering Department and the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board, to fully cooperate and provide all necessary support.
Officials said the contamination was reportedly caused by a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline, allowing sewage from a toilet to mix with the supply.
Reports also stated that 454 patients were admitted during the outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged, while 11 remain hospitalised.