Indore water contamination: Amid deaths, 3 tenant families leave Bhagirathpura; residents rush to govt clinics

INDORE: As the fallout of the water contamination deaths in Indore’s Bhagirathpura continued to unfold, three families living on rent in the affected neighbourhood temporarily headed back to their native villages.

While neither the government nor the civic administration put out any advisory or circular prompting the exodus, the families decided to return after coming down with ailments themselves or watching their children suffer.However, local residents said the situation in Bhagirathpura was gradually improving, with people now taking strict precautions. Residents said they have completely stopped drinking Narmada water.

Families are either relying on tanker water or buying packaged water at Rs 20 per litre from a nearby RO supplier and boiling it before consumption. “Everyone is being careful now. Water is being boiled before use, and no one is taking chanc-es,” a local resident said.The resident added that most families continue to remain in the neighbourhood while exercising extreme caution.Among those deciding to head back is Surendra Rawat, a porter working in an industrial area, who locked his oneroom rented house and boarded a bus on Dec 31 for his native village Shahpur in Sagar district. Rawat said he spent his entire savings of around Rs 10,000 on the treatment of his 13-year-old daughter, who fell ill allegedly after consuming contaminated water. “My daughter was continuously vomiting and had become very fragile,” Surendra told TOI over the phone, adding, “I earn Rs 300–400 a day, and that too is not fixed.

I could not have afforded it if my other children had fallen sick, so I had to leave for my native place.”Another family, which has decided to leave Bhagirathpura, is that of Rajkumar Rawat and his wife Imarti Rawat, who moved to their native village Karapur in Sagar after Rajkumar fell ill. The couple lived in a single-room rented house. Imarti said their landlord asked them to pay the monthly rent upon their return, as most of their money was spent on Rajkumar’s treatment. “There is no work here, but at least we have our own house and safe water and food at my in-laws’ place,” Imarti told TOI.Sheela, a widow living with her two children, has also temporarily left. She will come back only after things become normal, a neighbour said.