Indore diarrhoea outbreak linked to contaminated drinking water, lab confirms
Laboratory tests have confirmed that the diarrhoea outbreak in Indore, which has claimed at least four lives and affected more than 1,400 people, was caused by contaminated drinking water, officials said on Thursday.
The findings highlight serious lapses in the drinking water supply system in parts of Madhya Pradesh’s commercial capital, which has consistently been ranked India’s cleanest city for the past eight years.
The findings highlight serious lapses in the drinking water supply system in parts of Madhya Pradesh’s commercial capital, which has consistently been ranked India’s cleanest city for the past eight years.
Indore Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Prasad Hasani said a laboratory report prepared by a city-based medical college established that the drinking water was contaminated due to a leakage in a pipeline in the Bhagirathpura area, where the outbreak was reported. However, he did not disclose detailed results of the test.
Officials said the leakage was detected in the main drinking water supply pipeline near a police outpost in Bhagirathpura, at a location over which a toilet had been constructed. The leakage allegedly led to contamination of the water supply in the area.
Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey told PTI that authorities are inspecting the entire drinking water pipeline network in Bhagirathpura to check for any other leakages.
“After inspection, clean water was supplied through the pipeline on Thursday. As a precautionary measure, residents have been advised to consume the water only after boiling it,” Dubey said, adding that fresh water samples have also been sent for testing.
“After inspection, clean water was supplied through the pipeline on Thursday. As a precautionary measure, residents have been advised to consume the water only after boiling it,” Dubey said, adding that fresh water samples have also been sent for testing.
Taking lessons from the Bhagirathpura incident, Dubey said a standard operating procedure (SOP) would be issued across the state to prevent similar incidents in the future. He visited the affected area to assess the situation on the instructions of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
According to a health department official, a survey of 1,714 households was conducted in Bhagirathpura on Thursday, during which 8,571 people were examined. Of these, 338 individuals with mild symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea were given primary treatment at home.
Over the past eight days since the outbreak began, 272 patients have been admitted to local hospitals, with 71 discharged so far. Currently, 201 patients remain hospitalised, including 32 who are in intensive care units (ICUs), the official said.
