Indore: A six-month-old boy has died after falling ill due to the alleged consumption of contaminated drinking water in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore district, deepening the tragedy that has already claimed multiple lives and left over a hundred people hospitalised.
According to the family, the infant developed diarrhoea on December 26 and was taken to a local doctor, who prescribed medicines before sending him home. The child’s condition appeared stable for the next two days, but on the night of December 29, he suddenly developed a high fever, began vomiting, and died at home.
The child’s father, Sunil Sahu, said the loss has been devastating for the family. He said the baby was born after a gap of ten years and was their only son, adding that they also have a daughter. The family believes the illness was caused by contaminated water supplied in their area.
The incident comes amid a wider public health crisis in Indore, where at least four people have died and more than 149 others have been hospitalised after allegedly consuming polluted water. Most of the affected residents reported symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday visited hospitals where patients are undergoing treatment and reviewed the medical arrangements. He met affected families and assured them of strict action against those found responsible. The chief minister said preliminary action had already been taken against officials for negligence and that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The state government has announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh for the families of those who have died and assured free treatment for all affected patients. Senior officials, including ministers and top bureaucrats, have been deployed to reassess the situation as emergency measures continue in the affected areas.
Authorities are also examining the water supply system to identify the source of contamination, while health teams remain on the ground to monitor the situation and provide medical assistance.
