Madhya Pradesh administration has come under renewed scrutiny after Rohit Sisonia, an IAS officer held primarily responsible for lapses in a probe into the Indore water contamination that led to multiple deaths, was transferred and took charge as deputy collector (DC) of Raisen earlier this month.
Probe findings and official action
A one‑member judicial inquiry headed by retired high court judge Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta submitted a report dated 18 August, which was placed before the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court in September. The probe attributed primary responsibility to the 2017‑batch officer Sisonia and the then‑executive engineer (water supply) Sanjeev Shrivastava for a range of lapses involving inspections, repair work and delays in replacing a damaged drinking‑water pipeline.
The report said bacterial contamination of drinking water occurred after sewage mixed with potable water where two parallel pipelines — one carrying sewage and the other drinking water — had been damaged over the years. Investigators also highlighted a 72‑day delay in the tender process to replace the damaged pipeline, between 15 October and 26 December 2025, just before the outbreak.
Death toll and varying counts
There are differing accounts of the fatalities and hospitalisations stemming from the outbreak that surfaced on 29 December last year in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area. Media reporting cited more than 400 admissions to hospitals with vomiting and diarrhoea, and public statements have referred to deaths ranging from 22 to over 30.
The judicial report, based on hospital records, specifically linked 22 deaths to the contamination. Opposition leaders and some media reports have cited higher figures: the Congress state unit chief alleged 36 deaths, while other accounts referred to “over 30” fatalities. The divergence in numbers has become a point of contention in political debate.
Personnel moves: suspension, transfer and fresh posting
Following the outbreak, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had suspended Sisonia on 2 January along with other municipal officials for alleged negligence. Despite that suspension, Sisonia was later posted as deputy collector of Raisen. Official transfer orders were issued on 13 October, and he formally assumed charge on 15 October.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Contamination outbreak surfaces in Bhagirathpura, Indore | 29 December (previous year) |
| Judicial probe report dated | 18 August |
| Sisonia suspended by state government | 2 January |
| Transfer order issued | 13 October |
| Sisonia took charge as Raisen DC | 15 October |
Political response and public accountability
The appointment has provoked sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Jitu Patwari, Congress state unit chief, criticised the move on social media, saying the officer removed after the tragedy had been made Raisen collector by the state government.
“36 people died in the tragedy of contaminated water in Bhagirathpura, Indore, India’s first Water Plus City! After this criminal incident, the administrative officer Rohit Sisodiya, who was removed, has been made the Raisen collector by the Mohan Yadav government,”
Patwari’s post used an alternative spelling of the officer’s surname. The allegation underscores demands for clearer administrative accountability and for the state to spell out its rationale for the transfer and fresh posting.
Local impact and administrative implications
The Bhagirathpura incident remains a sensitive issue for Indore residents, given the scale of illness and the question of preventable infrastructure failure. Public health experts and civic activists have repeatedly told reporters that mixing of sewage and drinking water in urban pipelines is an established risk in cities with parallel or ageing infrastructure — a fact reflected in the judicial inquiry’s findings.
Administrative observers say posting a suspended officer to another district after a disciplinary order often raises questions about the rigour of departmental penalties and the message it sends about deterrence. The state government has not released a detailed public justification for the transfer that has been cited in media coverage.
What remains to be clarified
- The state’s formal response explaining the basis for Sisonia’s transfer and appointment to Raisen and whether any disciplinary proceedings remain pending.
- Reconciliation of divergent fatality figures and a definitive public accounting based on hospital and civil records.
- Implementation details of remedial measures to prevent recurrence, including pipeline replacement timelines and tender process improvements.
As the controversy unfolds, citizens and political actors are seeking transparent action on both accountability for the tragedy and concrete steps to strengthen urban water safety. The administrative posting has converted a past public‑health failure into an ongoing test of governance and responsiveness in the state.
