The water supply disaster gripping Indore's Bhagirathpura area has taken a chilling turn, evolving from deadly diarrhea outbreaks to suspected nerve damage among survivors. Once hailed as India's cleanest city eight times over, Indore now battles a public health emergency that has claimed 16 lives and hospitalized over 1,400 residents, with fresh reports of paralysis-like symptoms signaling long-term devastation.

The crisis erupted late December when foul, muddy tap water—traced to a sewage leak infiltrating the main Narmada drinking pipeline beneath a public toilet—sent scores to hospitals with violent vomiting and dehydration. By New Year's, deaths mounted quickly: seven confirmed initially, rising to 16 amid conflicting tallies from officials and locals. A poignant case involved a six-month-old infant, whose grieving parents lost their long-awaited child after he consumed formula mixed with the contaminated supply.

The outbreak enters a "terrifying new phase" as neurological complications surface. Parvati Bai Kondla, 67, survived initial gut woes only to develop Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder causing muscle weakness and paralysis; nerve conduction tests verified acute damage, landing her on a ventilator. Health experts link such cases to bacterial toxins or infections from the polluted water, warning of broader risks like immune disorders and psychological trauma for hundreds still under care. Over 20 new diarrhea cases emerged as recently as January 3, with 9,000 screened citywide.

Officials responded by suspending water engineers, purging pipelines, deploying tankers, and pledging Rs 2 lakh per deceased family plus free medical aid. The district collector declared the area water-scarce, but outrage grows over delayed action despite a $200 million Asian Development Bank loan requiring strict biweekly quality checks—audits that appear lapsed. Opposition leaders and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) probe allegations of death undercounts and negligence, as Bhagirathpura residents decry ignored complaints of bad water for weeks.

This scandal shatters Indore's pristine image, rooted more in visible cleanliness than hidden infrastructure woes. A recent Madhya Pradesh audit found just 63% of water samples safe, highlighting statewide vulnerabilities to contamination. Experts urge nationwide upgrades: real-time leak sensors, mandatory boiling advisories, and transparent testing to avert repeats. For now, Bhagirathpura families fight not just illness, but shattered faith in the tap.