New Delhi/Indore, January 2, 2026 — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government of gross negligence in the wake of a deadly water contamination crisis in Indore, declaring that "poison, not water" had been distributed to residents while officials "slumbered like Kumbhakarna."
The outburst came amid reports of at least nine deaths and over 200 hospitalizations from a diarrhoea outbreak triggered by sewage leaking into the city's drinking water supply, with families alleging the toll could be as high as 15. Laboratory tests confirmed the contamination stemmed from a leak near a newly constructed public toilet in the densely populated Bhagirathpura area, where residents had repeatedly complained of foul-smelling, dirty water for weeks prior, but authorities took no action.
In a scathing post on X (formerly Twitter) in Hindi, Gandhi lambasted the administration's inaction and what he called the arrogance of BJP leaders. "In Indore, there was no water—just poison being distributed—while the administration slumbered like Kumbhakarna. Mourning has spread from home to home, the poor are helpless—and to top it off, arrogant statements from BJP leaders. Those whose hearths have gone cold needed solace; the government served up hubris instead," he wrote, referencing the mythological demon Kumbhakarna's legendary deep sleep. Gandhi specifically highlighted a controversial remark by state BJP leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, who reportedly dismissed queries about the deaths with what critics described as thuggish language.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha further broadened his attack, labeling Madhya Pradesh the "epicentre of misgovernance" under the BJP's "double-engine" regime—referring to the party's control at both state and central levels. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of maintaining a "deafening silence" whenever the poor suffer, drawing parallels to previous scandals like the 2022 cough syrup deaths and ongoing issues with sewage-tainted water supplies. "People had repeatedly complained about the dirty, foul-smelling water—yet nothing was done," Gandhi added, underscoring the preventable nature of the tragedy.
The crisis erupted over the past week in Indore, Madhya Pradesh's commercial capital and a five-time winner of the Swachh Survekshan cleanliness award, highlighting the irony of the situation in a city long touted for its sanitation efforts. Symptoms of the outbreak—severe vomiting, diarrhoea, and dehydration—struck hundreds, with at least 32 patients requiring intensive care across local hospitals. Among the victims was a six-month-old infant, whose family rejected the government's compensation offer, demanding accountability instead.
In response, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav rushed to Indore on Thursday, visiting affected patients and chairing an emergency review meeting. He vowed that "such a tragedy will not be repeated" and announced immediate measures, including the suspension of two Public Health Engineering Department officials and the sacking of another. A three-member investigation panel has been formed, with promises of strict action based on its findings. The state has restored water supply but advised residents to boil it before consumption, while teams examine the entire pipeline network for further leaks. Families of the deceased have been offered Rs 2 lakh ($24,000) in compensation.
The Congress party echoed Gandhi's sentiments, posting on X that "in Madhya Pradesh, people are dying from drinking contaminated water, and when questions are raised, BJP government ministers are using thuggish language." Opposition voices have called for a high-level probe, while BJP defenders have pointed to the swift administrative response as evidence of proactive governance.
As the death toll mounts and families mourn— with hearths "gone cold," as Gandhi put it—the Indore crisis has reignited national debates on public health infrastructure, urban sanitation, and political accountability in India's heartland. Health experts warn that without addressing root causes like aging pipelines and poor maintenance, such outbreaks could recur, especially in densely populated urban slums.
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