Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Indore on Saturday, January 17, 2026, to meet with patients and families impacted by the recent water contamination crisis in the city. The outbreak of vomiting and diarrhea, linked to contaminated water in the Bhagirathpura area, has resulted in multiple fatalities and widespread illness.

Gandhi's visit included a stop at Bombay Hospital, where he interacted with patients undergoing treatment and offered condolences to their families. He also went to Bhagirathpura, one of the most affected localities, to assess the situation and express his support for those impacted by the crisis.

The Congress party conveyed details of Gandhi's visit via social media, stating his intention to meet with residents who had fallen ill due to the contaminated water and to stand in solidarity with families who had lost loved ones.

Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari criticized the state's ruling BJP, accusing them of shifting blame instead of addressing the core issues. Patwari highlighted the failure to ensure safe drinking water despite decades of BJP governance in the state, the Indore Municipal Corporation, and the parliamentary constituency. He stated that the state government was failing to understand the pain of the affected families.

Umang Singhar, Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, stated that Gandhi's visit aimed to understand the root causes of the incident and support the affected families. Singhar emphasized that access to clean drinking water is a constitutional right and the responsibility of the municipal corporation, calling the incident a "blot on Indore".

The water contamination crisis in Indore came to light in late December 2025 when residents of Bhagirathpura began reporting foul smell, discoloration, and health issues related to their water supply. Despite repeated complaints to municipal authorities, effective action was not taken promptly, leading to a severe health emergency.

Official reports confirm that seven people died between December 28, 2025, and January 12, 2026, due to the outbreak. However, local residents and some reports claim the death toll is much higher. A "death audit" report by a committee from Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College indicated that 15 deaths in Bhagirathpura might be linked to the outbreak.

The cause of the contamination is suspected to be the mixing of sewage water with the drinking water supply, possibly due to aging and poorly maintained pipelines. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a high-level committee to investigate the water contamination and determine the failures that led to the crisis. The NGT has also demanded a report within six weeks.

The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) was aware of the risks posed by aging pipelines and had prepared a file to lay a new water pipeline in November 2024, but the execution was repeatedly delayed. A tender was issued in July 2025, but significant work only began in late December 2025, after the fatalities had already started.

The incident has raised serious questions about urban water management and public water safety across India.