Indore tragedy: Diarrhoea deaths a blot on India’s cleanest city
Published on: Jan. 3, 2026, 2:30 a.m. | Source: The Tribune
It’s a tragic irony that India’s cleanest city, Indore, has witnessed at least 10 deaths due to a diarrhoea outbreak caused by contaminated water. Leakage in the main drinking water supply pipeline has exposed thousands of residents in the Bhagirathpura area to a public health hazard. This is clearly the outcome of administrative negligence, and the Madhya Pradesh government should not shy away from taking strict action against officials at all levels. The sorry state of affairs has compelled the National Human Rights Commission and the MP High Court to intervene. The troubling truth is that the authorities tasked with protecting the health of citizens swung into action only after lives were lost. This malaise, however, is not confined to Indore; it’s a nationwide phenomenon. Formation of inquiry committees, announcement of compensation and suspension of junior officials have become all-too-familiar exercises in damage control.
