Indore water crisis: Congress demands Rs 1cr compensation to families of deceased; calls Rs 2L relief an ‘insult to victims’

INDORE: The Bhagirathpura area of Indore transformed into a political fortress on Tuesday as high-ranking Congress leaders, led by state president Jitu Patwari and leader of opposition Umang Singhar, arrived to meet families affected by a deadly contaminated water crisis.

The visit was marked by heavy police deployment and heated confrontations, reflecting the escalating tension over an incident that reportedly claimed several lives and left many more hospitalised. Anticipating unrest following recent clashes between Congress and BJP workers, Indore police converted Bhagirathpura into a virtual cantonment. All entry points were sealed with barricades, and Vajra vehicles (riot control vans) were stationed throughout the neighbourhood.

When the Congress delegation arrived around 1:00pm, they were initially blocked by security forces. This led to a fiery exchange of words between Umang Singhar and police officials. Despite the standoff, the Congress leaders eventually managed to enter the area via an alternative route to visit the grieving families of 3 victims. Speaking to the media after the visit, Jitu Patwari launched a scathing attack on the state govt. He alleged that while the administration spent lakhs on routine meetings, it insulted the victims by offering a mere Rs 2 lakh in compensation.

This incident brought a bad name to Indore. The mayor, the mayor-in-council, and the chief minister are 100% responsible, Patwari stated. Chief minister Mohan Yadav, who is also the minister-in-charge for Indore, should apologise to the public by bowing his head. The Mayor and minister Kailash Vijayvargiya must resign immediately, Patwari said, further demanding Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of each deceased victim. He also demanded an investigation into his claim that the actual death toll may exceed 17 people due to water contamination in the Bhagirathpura area.

Singhar accused the govt of using the police to hide its failures.

The govt even stationed police in hospitals. Why is there so much fear? Is this insensitivity or total failure? Singhar questioned. He urged the administration to focus on making Indore truly clean and safe rather than suppressing the voice of the opposition.

Residents of Bhagirathpura echoed these frustrations, claiming they complained about contaminated water for 2 years without any action from the Municipal Corporation, the LoP said.

Meanwhile, Akash Vijayvargiya, former MLA and son of urban administration minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, wrote to CM Mohan Yadav. In a move that highlighted the severity of the situation, he urged the CM to increase the ex-gratia payment from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for the bereaved families.

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