Indoreb victims’ kin ask Rahul Gandhi to raise voice on ‘persisting water woes’

Indore: Families in Bhagirathpura, who lost loved ones to the recent water contamination tragedy, collectively raised a demand for safe drinking water, stressing that basic infrastructure was more critical to them than financial assistance.During his visit to the affected area to pay his respects, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met several grieving families who shared their harrowing experiences and urged him to advocate for a permanent solution to the city's water crisis.Shanu Prajapat, whose mother-in-law Seema Prajapat died after consuming contaminated water, said that while the family received a compensation cheque of Rs 2 lakh from the govt, their primary concern remained unresolved. "We told Rahul Gandhi that we simply want clean drinking water so no one else has to suffer like our family did," Shanu said.Similar sentiments were echoed by Anand Barede, who lost his father, Jeevanlal, on December 28. "We informed Rahul Gandhi about the persisting water problems in this locality. He assured us that he would raise his voice to ensure a supply of clean water and prevent further deaths," Anand shared.While some families received state aid, others alleged neglect. Bihari Kori, whose wife Uma died on December 29, confirmed receiving Rs 2 lakh from the local administration and an additional Rs 1 lakh from the Congress party. He also received an approval letter from Umang Singhar for a further Rs 50,000. "My wife died on December 29. We urged Rahul Gandhi to raise our voice to restore the clean drinking water arrangements in Bhagirathpura," Bihari said.The family of Shakun Bai Kardam, who died on December 24, claimed they were completely ignored by the govt. "My mother suffered so severely from diarrhoea that we had to change 10 nappies a day before she was declared brought dead at MY Hospital," said her son, Shubham, and his wife. They alleged that no govt official approached them so far, and the Rs 1 lakh provided by Rahul Gandhi was the first and only assistance they received so far. Kishore Drupkar, who lost his mother Geetabai on Jan 2, described how rapidly the infection took her life. "In just 1 day, she was so exhausted from vomiting and diarrhoea that her body became completely dehydrated," he told the visiting leader. Along with the demand for clean water, Kishore urged the govt to provide him with a job to help sustain his family following their loss.Other residents, including the families of Tara Rani, Santosh Bigoliya, and Shankar, also met with the Congress leader. Their message remained consistent: while financial aid was temporary relief, the restoration of safe, reliable, and clean drinking water was the only way to ensure the future safety of Bhagirathpura's residents.