A 65-year-old woman has died after allegedly consuming contaminated drinking water in Indore, pushing the death toll in the ongoing water contamination crisis to 32, officials said. The woman had been undergoing treatment for severe gastrointestinal illness before succumbing, adding to mounting concern over the scale and severity of the outbreak.

The incident is part of a larger public health emergency that has affected several localities in the city, where residents reported falling ill after consuming municipal water. Victims have complained of symptoms such as acute diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration and fever, prompting large-scale hospitalisations over the past several weeks. Health authorities have linked the illnesses to contamination in the drinking water supply.

According to officials, preliminary investigations indicate that sewage may have entered potable water pipelines, leading to widespread bacterial contamination. Water samples from affected areas have reportedly failed safety tests, triggering emergency measures including the supply of tanker water, advisories against using tap water for drinking, and intensified chlorination and pipeline inspections.

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Hospitals in Indore have been under sustained pressure as hundreds of patients sought treatment, with several requiring intensive care. Medical teams and temporary health camps have been deployed in the worst-affected neighbourhoods to identify cases early and prevent further fatalities, particularly among the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.

The state administration has ordered multiple probes into the incident to determine responsibility and assess lapses in water supply infrastructure and monitoring. Authorities have said accountability will be fixed once investigations are complete, while also assuring residents that corrective steps are being taken to restore safe drinking water and prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy.

The crisis has sparked public anger and renewed debate over urban infrastructure safety in one of India’s fastest-growing cities. As officials work to stabilise the situation, residents continue to demand long-term solutions, transparent communication, and assurances that access to clean and safe drinking water will not be compromised again.

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