At least 10 deaths and 200 hospitalisations in Indore reveal grave gaps in preparedness and basic civic responsibility
The crisis unfolded in India’s “cleanest city”, exposing how rankings mask deep failures in essential urban services
The poorest neighbourhoods suffer the most, while the affluent rely on private filtration to compensate for unsafe supply
Despite major loans and grants, ageing pipelines, poor maintenance, and delayed repairs continue to endanger lives
Suspensions and probes followed the tragedy, but reactive action cannot substitute systemic reform and capacity building
Indore’s failure reflects a wider urban malaise, where rapid growth outpaces governance, planning, and accountability