In the last week of December, families in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area began falling sick with vomiting and diarrhoea. By 2 January, more than 1,400 people had been affected, 272 had been admitted to hospital and the city’s mayor confirmed at least 10 deaths.
Officials found the cause in the pipes. A leak in the main drinking water line, at a spot where a toilet had been built over it, let sewage into the supply.
The water smelled bad.
Sudha Pal, whose father died after drinking the water
Clean at the source isn’t enough
The city’s water came from the Narmada River, but safe water at the treatment plant means little if pipes leak on the way to the tap. Residents said they had complained before the outbreak, and the dirty water kept flowing.
The official death toll became a dispute. By late January, local reports put the unofficial count at 30, while the state government linked 16 deaths to the water. A court-ordered commission was set up to investigate.
What safe pipes change
- Health: water that stays clean all the way to the tap.
- Trust: families can drink without fear.
- Accountability: complaints acted on before people fall ill.
How you can help
Share this story to show that clean water isn’t only about wells and rivers. Ask how your own water network is checked, and follow organisations working on safe urban water in South Asia.
Source: Bernama / Anadolu, “At least 10 die in central India after consuming contaminated water”, 2 January 2026; Asia News Network, “Contaminated water deaths in India’s Indore rise to 30 in unofficial toll”, 29 January 2026; quote from Asia News Network, 2 January 2026.
