The Madhya Pradesh high court has directed chief secretary Anurag Jain to appear virtually on January 15 in connection with the outbreak of waterborne diseases in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area, which has claimed at least 10 lives.
The order was passed by the Indore bench while hearing petitions linked to contaminated drinking water in the locality.
Officials said more than half of the groundwater samples collected from borewells tested positive for E coli bacteria, raising serious public health concerns. The bench observed that safe drinking water is part of the fundamental right to life and said the issue could not be treated as isolated to one area of the city.
The court also sought a fresh status report after petitioners alleged underreporting of infections and deaths. Senior advocate Ajay Bagadia flagged delays in a ₹2.38 crore water pipeline project.
Meanwhile, 38 new cases of vomiting and diarrhoea were reported on Tuesday, indicating a deteriorating situation
