Overview
- Calling the official response “insensitive,” the Indore bench sought a fresh status report and directed Chief Secretary Anurag Jain to brief the court by video on January 15 on statewide safeguards.
- Interim orders mandate safe water via tankers at government cost, immediate stoppage of contaminated sources, free care in government and empanelled private hospitals, and citywide testing by NABL-accredited labs.
- The court also directed replacement of faulty pipelines, installation of online water-quality monitoring, strict chlorination, and preparation of a long-term water safety plan for Indore.
- Laboratory reports have found fecal contamination and pathogens including Vibrio cholerae and E. coli, with officials reporting about 110 patients under treatment, 15 in ICUs, after 38 new diarrhoeal cases were logged on Monday.
- State actions include suspensions and transfers of civic and PHE officials and compensation extended to 18 families, while deaths remain disputed, with official tallies ranging from 4 to 10 and opposition claims as high as 20 alongside demands for resignations and higher payouts.