Indore Couple Dies a Month Apart After Drinking Sewage-Contaminated Water

Indore: Two members of the same family in Indore have died within a month after reportedly developing serious health complications from consuming sewage-contaminated drinking water. The couple, residents of Bhagirathpura area, succumbed to severe diarrhoea and vomiting caused by contaminated water supply.

Seventy-year-old Urmila Yadav died on December 28, followed by her husband Alghuram Yadav, who passed away on February 6. According to the family, the illness was triggered after a drinking water pipeline burst during sewage work in the locality, leading to contamination of the water supply.

The tragedy has also affected the couple’s family deeply, as a baby boy—born to the family after a wait of 15 years—fell critically ill after consuming the contaminated water. The child reportedly survived after being administered 18 bottles of saline.

Family members said Alghuram began showing symptoms soon after his wife’s funeral. While the health department has claimed that he suffered from pre-existing medical conditions, the family has disputed this, alleging that he was in good health before consuming the contaminated water.

Local residents allege that at least 33 people in Bhagirathpura have died after drinking sewage-mixed water, though the government has officially acknowledged only 21 deaths so far. The state government had provided financial assistance of 2 lakh rupees following Urmila Yadav’s death.

Taking note of the situation, the High Court criticised the government’s report on the deaths and constituted an inquiry committee headed by retired judge Sushil Kumar Gupta to probe the matter. Meanwhile, more than 450 people have reportedly sought medical treatment after consuming contaminated water in the area.