Not getting into data analysis, providing relief to families of all deceased in water crisis: MP CM Mohan Yadav

BHOPAL: Even as debate over the number of deaths in Indore's Bhagirathpura area due to a diarrhoea outbreak continued, MP chief minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday said, "Death of even one person is painful for us. That is why we are not getting into data analysis. The administration has its own method of evaluation," the chief minister said to a question from TOI on the possible death toll in the incident during a press conference on the recently passed Vikasit Bharat G RAM G Act. Till now, the state govt has declared six deaths while 18 bereaved families were handed out cheques of Rs 2 lakh each as compensation on Tuesday. "A panel of doctors is currently analysing every case to establish the exact cause of death. However, this is a highly sensitive issue. We cannot wait for every clinical report to arrive before supporting these families. Therefore, we have released Rs 36 lakh from the Red Cross Fund to the kin of all 18 people who died over the past two weeks, regardless of the final report," Indore collector Shivam Verma had told TOI on Tuesday. "There is an ecosystem through which the Centre and states evaluate implementation of policies. We too are following the same we believe in delivery of benefits to all. This is an extremely sad incident. No matter who the people are, when it comes to providing relief, we will stand by everyone. We are taking a humane approach and the state govt is providing relief to the next of kin of every deceased whose post-mortem examination was carried out," the CM added. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, 24 patients were treated in the OPD with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting from Bhagirathpura. Four patients were admitted to hospitals taking the figure to 56, Indore CMHO Dr Madhav Hasani said. "As many as 9 patients are admitted in the ICU," he said. In Bhagirathpura, Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) flushed the water pipeline to remove remnants of any sewage material while water samples were also collected from different areas. "We have filled the main water tank, chlorinated it and maintained all protocols so that chlorination of the entire pipeline takes place," IMC commissioner Kshitij said. Leader of opposition Umang Singhar took to the streets in Indore on Wednesday to conduct an independent ‘water audit'. He warned that several other neighbourhoods in the city are now on the verge of becoming ‘the next Bhagirathpura' due to systemic negligence.