Indore, Feb 2 (NationPress) The President of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, Jitu Patwari, emphasized on Monday that the residents of Indore must amplify their voices regarding the critical issue of water contamination, particularly in solidarity with the victims from Bhagirathpura who have tragically lost their lives. This action is necessary to hold the administration and public representatives accountable.

In a video message, former Congress Minister Jitu Patwari, who hails from Indore, highlighted that 32 individuals have succumbed to the dire effects of contaminated water in Bhagirathpura. He criticized the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) and the district administration for failing to ensure safe drinking water across many areas of the city.

“Tragically, another resident from Bhagirathpura, identified as Anil Kushwaha, passed away this morning while hospitalized at Bombay Hospital in Indore. This marks the total to 32 deaths, a situation that demands urgent action from the people of Indore to hold authorities accountable,” Patwari stated.

He announced that the Congress party intends to conduct a peaceful protest near Rajwada Palace in Indore, aiming to spotlight the BJP government's failure to address accountability in this water contamination disaster.

“Despite the alarming 32 fatalities in Bhagirathpura, the citizens of Indore have remained largely silent. The Congress party, acting as a responsible Opposition, is committed to raising this issue and encourages the people of Indore to advocate for safe water,” Patwari urged in his video message.

Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh government and Indore district administration, which have been overseeing the health impacts on those affected by the contaminated water, have yet to release an official statement concerning the recent deaths.

Importantly, this matter is currently under review by the Indore Division Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. In the last hearing on January 27, the High Court appointed former judge Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta as a one-member Commission of Inquiry to investigate the alleged water contamination crisis in Bhagirathpura and its repercussions on the rest of Indore, noting that the incident raises significant concerns relating to the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The Court acknowledged that while the Madhya Pradesh Government and Indore Municipal Corporation had submitted compliance reports claiming adherence to prior directives, substantial disputes regarding actual implementation persist.

Moreover, during the January 27 hearing, the Madhya Pradesh government reported that it had relied on a death audit and analytical report, revealing that out of 23 examined deaths, 16 were linked to water contamination, while the other cases were labeled inconclusive.