Contaminated Water Claims Another Life As Death Toll Mounts to 32; Here’s How Dirty Water Turns Fatal

A 65-year-old woman lost her life after battling serious diarrhoea and vomiting for weeks, taking the official death count in Indore’s water contamination tragedy to 32. According to news reports, Anita Kushwah from Bhagirathpura was put on a ventilator since last month after she began complaining of vomiting and later loose motions along with many others in her locality after they drank dirty tap water. She was first admitted to Bhagyashree Hospital on December 28 but was sent home after two days of treatment. However, within hours, Anita’s condition deteriorated, and she was shifted from one hospital to another by the family to save her life. Doctors who treated Anita said her kidneys subsequently failed, forcing continuous hemodialysis. Despite

being kept in critical care, she later suffered a cardiac arrest from which she could not be revived. “The government ensured treatment at a higher-level hospital, but despite all efforts, the patient could not be saved,” Dr Madhav Hasani, Chief Medical and Health Officer, was quoted by the NDTV. Just last week, another victim of the contaminated water died after being hospitalised for nearly a month. With no improvement in his condition, his family brought him home, where he passed.

More than 450 have been treated so far

The Madhya Pradesh state government officials say that till now, more than 450 patients affected after drinking poisonous water have been treated and discharged. However, the danger is not over yet as three more remain hospitalised, two of them in the ICU, their condition still critical. The Madhya Pradesh High Court is currently hearing the case, with three petitions filed over the deaths in Bhagirathpura.Also read: Indore Water Contamination: What Is Guillain-Barré Syndrome After a Woman Shows Symptoms?

E. Coli strains found in water

In the Bhagirathpura locality of Indore - often celebrated as the country’s cleanest city - the end of 2025 was marked by unusual water quality. There was a foul smell, visible discoloration, and the water even tasted bitter. This was preceded by the reports of a widespread illness throughout the area. Residents began developing widespread symptoms of diarrhoea, dehydration, vomiting, and high fever after consuming municipal drinking water. This later prompted mass hospital visits, where the crisis quickly escalated into a waterborne disease outbreak. It was officially announced that the water samples tested positive for fecal coliform, E. coli, and Klebsiella bacteria. Exposure to all and any three of these can be fatal.

What is E. coli, and how is it harmful?

E. coli, also known as Escherichia coli, and other faecal bacteria are known to be microorganisms that are commonly found in the intestines of animals and humans. While there exist many strains that are harmless, there are also some that can turn deadly when mixed with drinking water; that is exactly what happened in the Indore waterborne illness outbreak case. When sewage leaks into water pipelines, it allows these bacteria to spread rapidly through households, exposing entire communities. Once in the system, the harmful strains of E.coli happen to attack the digestive system almost immediately. This leads to severe diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and dehydration. In more vulnerable groups like children and the elderly, the ones who have a weak immune system, this fluid loss can quickly turn life-threatening, also. Some strains are also known to release toxins that damage the lining of the intestines and, in extreme cases, also affect the bloodstream and kidneys, leading to complete organ failure or sepsis.