Eight people have died in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore after allegedly consuming contaminated drinking water in the Bhagirathpura area, triggering serious concerns over the city’s water safety systems.

The incident came to light after residents complained of an unusual taste and smell in municipal water supplied on December 25. Soon after, several people reported symptoms and were admitted to hospitals for treatment. While three deaths were reported till Tuesday, the toll rose to eight by Wednesday, an official confirmed.

Officials suspended, engineer removed from service

Taking cognisance of the matter, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered disciplinary action against municipal and public health officials late Tuesday night. Zonal officer Saligram Sitole and Assistant Engineer Yogesh Joshi were suspended, while Public Health Engineering Superintendent Engineer Shubham Srivastava was removed from service with immediate effect.

Calling the incident tragic, the Chief Minister said strict action was being taken against those found responsible.

Earlier, he expressed grief over the deaths, paid tributes to the victims, and wished a speedy recovery to those undergoing treatment. He also announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh for each bereaved family and assured that all medical expenses of affected patients would be borne by the state government, including reimbursement of any prior payments.

Political reactions and demand for accountability

Local MLA and Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya visited hospitals late Monday, met affected families, and reiterated that treatment would be provided free of cost.

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari, who visited hospitals on Tuesday evening, blamed the Indore Municipal Commissioner for the incident and demanded strict action. He said the district Congress unit would lodge an FIR against the Indore Municipal Corporation and the city’s mayor.

Patwari stated that while sewage contamination can cause illnesses such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and jaundice, it generally does not result in deaths, suggesting that the possibility of a toxic substance entering the drinking water pipeline must be investigated.

Authorities are expected to continue their probe into how sewage allegedly mixed with the drinking water supply, as concerns grow over civic infrastructure and public health safety in the city.

A 28-year-old married woman was allegedly gang-raped inside a moving van in Faridabad for more than two hours before being thrown onto the road in the early hours of Tuesday, police said.

The incident took place during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday when the woman was waiting for a vehicle to return home. A van stopped near her, and two men offered to drop her home. Instead, the vehicle was driven towards Gurgaon Road.

According to the complaint, the woman was confined inside the van for around two-and-a-half hours, during which the accused allegedly raped her repeatedly. She protested and pleaded for help, but the men allegedly threatened her and continued driving.

Around 3 am, the accused threw the woman out of the moving vehicle near Raja Chowk in SGM Nagar. She sustained severe facial injuries and was found bleeding on the road.

Despite her condition, the woman managed to call her sister several times. When the sister returned the call, she was informed about the incident. Family members rushed to the location and took the woman to a hospital, where doctors reportedly applied 10 to 12 stitches to her face. Her condition is stable, but she remains in shock, and her statement has not yet been recorded.

In her complaint, the victim’s sister said the woman had called her the previous evening around 8.30 pm, saying she had an argument with their mother and was going to a friend’s house. She had told her family she would return within three hours.

Police said the woman is married, has three children, and lives separately from her husband due to a domestic dispute.

Both accused have been arrested, and the van used in the crime has been recovered. Further investigation is underway.

Around 170 sheep have died under unexplained circumstances near the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal area in Lucknow, prompting the Uttar Pradesh government to order an official probe into the incident. Police have sent samples for post-mortem examination as authorities try to determine whether disease, poisoning or negligence led to the deaths.

The matter came to light after a complaint was submitted at Madiaon police station by Charu Khare, founder of an NGO, who stated that the sheep died suddenly in the area a few days after an event was held nearby. According to the application, the deaths occurred within a short span, raising concerns about possible external factors.

Khare said that, at this stage, it is not clear whether the animals died after consuming waste material or if they were deliberately poisoned by unknown persons. She demanded a thorough investigation and stressed that post-mortem examinations of the dead sheep were necessary to establish the exact cause.

Calling the incident serious and sensitive, she said the possibility of animal cruelty or administrative laxity could not be ruled out. She also assured that her organisation would extend all possible assistance to the authorities during the investigation and demanded strict action if poisoning or negligence is confirmed.

Police officials said samples have been sent for post-mortem and further action will depend on the medical reports. Taking cognisance of the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to conduct a probe into the matter. The state government also announced compensation of Rs 10,000 per sheep for the affected owners, according to an official statement.