Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday visited Madhya Pradesh to meet patients and families affected by the recent vomiting and diarrhoea outbreak linked to water contamination in Indore.Gandhi visited four patients undergoing treatment at Bombay Hospital, a private facility, enquiring about their health and meeting their family members, ANI reported. He also visited Bhagirathpura, the area worst affected by the outbreak last month, interacting with families of the deceased, offering condolences, and consoling them.Speaking to reporters, Rahul Gandhi said, “I have met those affected by drinking contaminated water in Bhagirathpura. Many family members have died, and many have fallen ill. A promise was made to give the country ‘Smart Cities’. But this is the new model of Smart City, where there is no drinking water and people are being intimidated. Clean water is not available in Indore. People have died from drinking contaminated water, and this is the government’s ‘urban model’.““This is not limited to Indore alone, but is happening in other cities as well. The government should take responsibility for this, and victims must receive proper compensation. Even today, clean water is not available here. As the Leader of the Opposition, I have come to raise their voice; this is my responsibility—I stand with the affected families”, he added.Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari and leader of opposition in the state legislative assembly representing the Gandhwani constituency Umang Singhar accompanied Gandhi. Police had made elaborate security arrangements in Bhagirathpura ahead of the visit, with barricades installed at multiple locations.Residents of Bhagirathpura claimed that 24 people died in the outbreak. However, in its status report before the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the state government put the toll at seven, including a five-month-old infant. Meanwhile, a ‘death audit’ by a committee from the government-run Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College indicated that 15 deaths could be linked to the outbreak in some manner.Madhya Pradesh’s chief minister Mohan Yadav had earlier announced Rs 2 lakh financial assistance to the families of the deceased and free treatment to all affected individuals. Officials added that while some deaths were due to other causes, they provided financial assistance to all bereaved families on humanitarian grounds, reported PTI.Speaking to ANI, Patwari criticised the state BJP government for indulging in “blame and counter-blame”, saying, “24-25 people have died due to poisonous water in Indore. The government of Madhya Pradesh, the cabinet of Madhya Pradesh, and our chief minister are engaged in the politics of blame. There has been BJP rule in the state for over 20 years, BJP-led Municipal Corporation in Indore for around 25 years, and over 30 years of BJP MPs in Indore, yet clean drinking water was not provided, leading to loss of lives. If these people cannot understand that pain, Rahul Gandhi will.”Umang Singhar added that Gandhi’s visit was aimed at understanding the incident at the grassroots level and extending solidarity to affected families. “The Constitution grants us the right to clean water; it is the municipal corporation’s responsibility, but why is it not being provided? These are the issues Rahul Gandhi seeks to comprehend,” he said.
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