“Poison in the Pipes”: Rahul Gandhi Targets BJP After Indore Deaths
Deadly water contamination sparks political storm in cleanest city.
Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday mounted a strong political attack on the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government after contaminated drinking water in Indore claimed at least four lives. In a detailed post on X, Gandhi alleged that instead of safe drinking water, residents were supplied “poison,” accusing the local administration of negligence despite Indore’s repeated recognition as India’s cleanest city.
Gandhi said the incident had plunged several neighbourhoods into mourning, with economically weaker families bearing the brunt of the crisis. He criticised what he described as insensitive reactions from ruling party leaders, arguing that grieving families required reassurance and accountability, not dismissive remarks. His statement alluded to comments made by state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kailash Vijavargiya, which triggered sharp reactions during media interactions.
Medical investigations later confirmed that sewage had contaminated the drinking water supply, leading to a diarrhoea outbreak that proved fatal for multiple residents. Laboratory tests conducted by a city-based medical college traced the contamination to leakage from a sewer line near a newly constructed public toilet in the Bhagirathpura area, raising serious questions about infrastructure planning and oversight.
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Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey said authorities were conducting a comprehensive inspection of the city’s water pipelines to rule out further breaches. While officials confirmed that water supply had been restored, residents were advised to boil water before consumption as a safety measure until the investigation is completed and corrective steps are implemented.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited Indore to assess the situation firsthand, meeting hospitalised patients and chairing a high-level review meeting with senior officials. The state government has suspended two Public Health Engineering Department officials and dismissed another, while a three-member committee has been appointed to investigate the lapse. Compensation of ₹2 lakh has been announced for the families of those who lost their lives.
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