CRISIS DEEPENS: CM, MAYOR DIFFER ON TOLL

From the cleanest city to a crisis zone - Indore battles deadly water contamination while authorities act to restore safety and accountability

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• Yadav says 4 deaths so far, mayor puts toll at 7, while locals claim that 10 have died

Contaminated drinking water in Indore's Bhagirathpura locality has claimed ten lives and sickened over 1,700 residents, turning the city once celebrated as India's cleanest into a public health emergency. On Wednesday evening, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav reached Indore to take stock of the situation. He assured of strict action against officers.

Preliminary investigations indicate that sewage entered the Narmada pipeline through a leakage under a toilet structure, triggering an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting. Residents had reported foul-smelling water as early as December 25, but the response was delayed, aggravating the crisis.