Judicial Panel Links 24 Indore Water Deaths To Sewage Contamination

A judicial inquiry commission headed by retired High Court judge Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta has submitted its report to the court. While the report remains confidential, its findings indicate that 24 of the 36 deaths were linked to sewage-contaminated drinking water supplied through Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) pipelines.

According to lawyers involved in the case, the commission held six civic officials responsible for the tragedy and attributed the contamination to administrative lapses and delays in replacing an ageing Narmada water pipeline. The inquiry reportedly found that delays in the tender process for laying a new pipeline allowed sewage and drinking water lines to remain vulnerable to contamination.

Advocate Manish Yadav, one of the petitioners, said IMC engineers and an additional commissioner were held responsible for delaying the tender process. He said the contaminated water contained pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella and Vibrio cholerae, while postmortem records cited gastrointestinal infection, diarrhoea and dehydration among the causes of death.

The commission, constituted on January 27, examined the causes of the contamination, the role of officials, medical records, relief and treatment measures, and compensation for affected families. It also collected records from the IMC, Indore Development Authority, district administration and health department and recorded statements from affected residents.

The report reportedly gave a clean chit to then IMC commissioner Dileep Yadav and Indore collector Shivam Verma, while six other civic officials were held responsible. However, the findings have not been officially released by the court, and responsibility will be subject to the court's consideration.

During Tuesday’s hearing, lawyers representing victims sought copies of the inquiry report. The court declined to permit its public circulation but allowed concerned advocates to inspect it at the office of the Principal Registrar.

The High Court also took note of complaints that contaminated water was still being supplied in some parts of Indore. It sought details from the municipal corporation on steps taken to ensure clean drinking water. The civic body said water samples had been tested and the results were expected within 48 hours.

The court is scheduled to hear the matter next on September 8.