State response on Indore water deaths insensitive, High Court says

During the hearing, the state informed the court about the fatalities and the steps taken so far. Additional Advocate General Rahul Sethi submitted, “As many as eight deaths have been recorded. The problem which we are facing (is that) certain deaths are because of cardiac arrest and diagnosed illnesses. We have formed a committee to probe the deaths. They will be providing a report within several days.”

The bench expressed strong displeasure over the manner in which the situation had been handled. Justice Shukla observed, “Such an insensitive response from the government… this incident has brought such a bad name to Indore, which is one of the cleanest cities of the country. It has become a news matter all over India and the world too.”

Excavation work at the pipeline

The petitions pertain to the contamination of drinking water in Bhagirathpura as well as other affected localities of Indore. The court recalled that on the previous date of hearing, directions had already been issued to the state government and the Indore Municipal Corporation to ensure a supply of clean drinking water in the affected areas and to bear the cost of treatment.

Petitioners who filed public interest litigations had submitted that despite court directions, the drinking water supplied to the affected areas is not clean. It was further argued that the affected persons are not getting proper treatment. The petitioners contended that complaints regarding dirty water had been made by residents before the incident, and had timely cognisance been taken, the tragedy could have been avoided.

Advocate Ajay Bagadia said, “The Mayor-in-Council had passed the order in 2022 for laying the new pipeline for the supply of drinking water, but because of the non-disbursement of the funds by erring officers of the Corporation, the said work could not be carried out.”

He said that in 2017-2018, 60 water samples were taken from various places in Indore, out of which 59 were found to be non-portable. He submitted that “despite the said report of the MP Pollution Control Board, no action was taken for prevention or rectification.”

He argued that “erring officers are responsible not only for civil liabilities but also for criminal liabilities; therefore, they should not only be saddled with the heavy compensation but also with criminal liabilities”.

The petitioners have prayed for the constitution of a high-level committee for inquiry.

Before issuing further directions, the court observed that “Right to Life under Article 21 includes right to clean drinking water.” The bench stated that the issues and reliefs would be categorised and proceeded to outline emergency, preventive and corrective measures.

As part of emergency directions, the court ordered that respondents should supply safe drinking water to the affected areas, and directed “stopping use of contaminated sources, specific pipelines, overhead tanks, borewells, rivers”. It also directed “medical screening of affected residents and free treatment in government and empanelled private hospitals”.

On preventive and corrective measures, the court directed that respondents shall “conduct water quality testing, undertake replacement/repair of pipelines (especially where sewer lines and water lines run parallel), ensure installation of online water quality monitoring systems, and prepare a long-term water safety plan for the city”.

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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