Daijiworld Media Network – Indore

Indore, Feb 14: “How can we forget the moments we spent with our child?” says Suraj Prajapati, the grief-stricken father of two-year-old Siya Prajapati, who succumbed during the vomiting and diarrhoea outbreak linked to contaminated drinking water in Bhagirathpura area of Indore.

Fondly called “Laddu” at home, Siya’s death has left her family shattered. More than a month after she first fell ill, her parents continue to relive memories of her playful laughter through photos and videos, breaking down each time they see her smiling face.

According to the family, Siya developed diarrhoea on December 27 after allegedly consuming contaminated water. Though her condition initially improved after treatment, it worsened within days, prompting her admission to Government Chacha Nehru Hospital. As her health deteriorated further, she was shifted to Government Super Specialty Hospital.

Officials said the toddler, who suffered from liver abscess, pneumonia and other serious complications, died on February 10. A liver abscess is a severe infection that causes pus to accumulate in the liver.

“My daughter was born after many prayers. She was very playful and would run to hug me whenever I returned home from work,” Prajapati said. He lives in a rented house in Bhagirathpura, the epicentre of the contaminated water tragedy, and runs a small trouser sewing unit.

He stated that Siya had been completely healthy before the outbreak in late December. “After she developed diarrhoea, we took her to a doctor. She improved briefly, but then her condition worsened again,” he recalled. Doctors later informed him that infection had spread in her body and her liver had filled with pus, causing abdominal swelling.

Prajapati also said he faced mental stress while attempting to activate his family’s Ayushman health card by submitting KYC documents. He lodged two complaints with the CM Helpline during his daughter’s hospitalisation. “The day after my daughter’s death, I received a call saying my Ayushman card had been activated and I should withdraw my complaint,” he said.

Despite the card being inactive initially, he acknowledged that both government hospitals provided free treatment, though he had to purchase some medicines from outside.

“I have not received any financial assistance so far. Even if I receive it, it will not bring my daughter back,” he said, adding that no compensation can fill the void left by the loss of his child.

Locals claim that at least 35 people have died in the outbreak that began in Bhagirathpura in late December due to contaminated drinking water. A one-member judicial commission headed by former Madhya Pradesh High Court judge Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta is currently probing the tragedy following court directions.

While officials maintain that some deaths were due to other illnesses, the Madhya Pradesh government has provided financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of more than 20 deceased persons on humanitarian grounds.