Madhya Pradesh: Rahul Gandhi Meets Indore Contaminated Water Victims' Families, Distributes Checks

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Indore today to meet the families of those who lost their lives due to contaminated water in the Bhagirathpura area. The tragic incident, which led to multiple deaths from consuming tainted water, began in December and has since fueled significant political debate and concern, while rahul Gandhi extended his condolences to the grieving families and assured them of his unwavering support during this difficult time.

Financial Aid to Affected Families

During his visit, Rahul Gandhi provided financial assistance, distributing checks of one lakh rupees each to 20 victim families in Indore, while this aid serves as a small measure of support for those who have suffered immense loss due to the contaminated water. He also visited Bombay Hospital, where he inquired about the. Health of patients admitted due to the contaminated water outbreak. He interacted with the patients and their relatives, understanding their plight and wishing them a speedy recovery. State Congress President Jitu Patwari, speaking to the media, claimed that 24 people have died so far in Bhagirathpura due to contaminated drinking water, with another eight to ten patients in critical condition.

He criticized the state government, stating that 70 percent of the water across the state is unfit for drinking due to contamination. Patwari labeled the contaminated water a 'slow poison,' alleging that it's causing severe damage to people's kidneys and other organs. Citing the famous Sanskrit saying 'Vinash Kale Viprit Buddhi' (when destruction is near, intellect works perversely), he attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party government, stating that despite multiple deaths from contaminated water in Indore, state ministers are busy with grand events and are instead verbally abusing the Congress for raising questions about the incident.

Administration Denies Permission for Conference

Jitu Patwari also revealed that the Congress party had intended to organize a conference involving intellectuals, environmentalists, and municipal councilors from across the state, with Rahul Gandhi's presence. The purpose of this conference was to hold positive discussions on solutions to the contaminated drinking water problem. However, the administration denied permission for the event, while patwari stated that the party would organize the conference at a later date to ensure a comprehensive discussion on this critical issue. The denial of permission by the administration has also drawn criticism from the Congress.

Conflicting Death Tolls

The outbreak of illnesses due to contaminated drinking water in Indore's Bhagirathpura area began in late December. Local residents claim that 24 people have succumbed to the outbreak so far. However, conflicting figures regarding the death toll have emerged. The state government, in a status report presented to the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday, mentioned the deaths of seven people, including a five-month-old infant, during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak in Bhagirathpura. Meanwhile, a 'death audit' report conducted by a committee of the government-run Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College in the. City indicated that the deaths of 15 people from Bhagirathpura might be linked to this outbreak in some way. This discrepancy highlights the seriousness of the issue and the lack of clarity in the official figures.