Rising Health Crisis in Indore: Rahul Gandhi to Meet Affected Families
Health Emergency in Bhagirathpura, Indore
In the Bhagirathpura area of Indore, a health crisis has emerged due to contaminated drinking water, leading to multiple fatalities. On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, is scheduled to visit the affected families and patients, as announced by the Congress party on Friday.
Jitu Patwari, the state Congress president, informed reporters that the contaminated water has resulted in the deaths of 24 individuals so far, with an additional eight to ten patients in critical condition.
Gandhi will arrive in Indore and visit the Bombay Hospital to meet with patients suffering from the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea. Patwari mentioned that the former national president of the party will also visit Bhagirathpura to express condolences to the grieving families.
He stated, “We intended to organize a conference with intellectuals, environmentalists, and municipal councilors from across the state to discuss solutions for the contaminated water issue in Gandhi's presence, but the administration denied us permission. We will hold this conference at a later date.”
Patwari further claimed that approximately 70% of the water in the state is contaminated and unfit for consumption. He referred to the tainted drinking water as a 'slow poison,' asserting that it is causing severe damage to people's kidneys and other organs.
He criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, citing the famous Sanskrit saying 'Vinasakale Viparit Buddhi,' and pointed out that despite the deaths caused by contaminated water in Indore, state ministers are preoccupied with lavish events and are dismissing our concerns with insults.
The outbreak in Bhagirathpura began at the end of December, with local residents claiming that 24 individuals have succumbed to the illness. Amid conflicting reports on the death toll, the state government presented a status report to the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday, mentioning the deaths of seven people, including a five-month-old infant, due to the outbreak.
Additionally, a death audit report from the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College in the city indicated that the deaths of 15 individuals in Bhagirathpura may be linked to this outbreak.