In a recent session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, the opposition party Congress raised a ruckus over the reported deaths resulting from contaminated water in Indore. While the state government acknowledged that 22 people had died due to this crisis, Congress challenged this figure, claiming that the true death toll is 35. This discrepancy has led to intense debates in the assembly, with opposition leaders demanding the resignation of two state ministers. The Speaker, Narendra Singh Tomar, had to adjourn the proceedings twice due to the chaotic atmosphere.

This issue gained further prominence following a 'death audit' report submitted to the MP High Court last month, in which the ruling BJP government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, acknowledged that 16 individuals had died from gastrointestinal illnesses caused by drinking contaminated water in the Bhagirathpura area of Indore in December 2025. The Congress party, however, points to a broader health crisis and argues that the government is downplaying the severity of the situation by underreporting the fatalities. They insist that accountability is necessary for the officials involved, particularly calling for the resignation of the Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla.

The Madhya Pradesh assembly is currently in its budget session, and the discourse surrounding public health is becoming increasingly contentious. As members of the assembly continue to deliberate on budget matters, issues related to public health and safety are surfacing as significant points of concern for the opposition. The opposition leader, Umang Singhhar, described the situation as a failure of the government’s system and reiterated the need for accountability to prevent future health catastrophes in the state.