Toxic water: Kin of 18 dead get Rs 2 lakh compensation each; panel links 6 deaths to contamination

INDORE: A week after Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav announced 2 lakh compensation for the families of those who died in Indore's Bhagirathpura area following a diarrhoea outbreak due to contaminated drinking water, the state govt gave away cheques on Tuesday to 18 families.

Indore collector Shivam Verma, however, told TOI that while only six deaths among them have been conclusively linked to water contamination, compensation was provided to every grieving family "given the gravity and sensitivity of the situation".




"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 2 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," Verma said.

The medical panel till now has officially confirmed that six deaths were directly attributable to contaminated water.

The list of those whose families got compensation includes Avyan Sahu, the five-month-old boy who, his mother claimed, died after she mixed water in his milk. The list also includes nine women. They were all admitted to hospitals and most of them died while under treatment.

This move follows a Dec 30 directive from the CM, who pledged financial assistance to the kin of the deceased and free medical treatment for all those affected by the outbreak.

Of the 18 families identified, 15 families were handed physical cheques while payments for three families are currently being processed via RTGS (direct bank transfer).


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