Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday visited Indore to meet victims of the recent water contamination tragedy, sharply criticising the government over what he described as a complete failure to provide even the most basic civic facilities.

Gandhi first reached Bombay Hospital, where he interacted with patients suffering from severe stomach infections and kidney-related complications caused by contaminated drinking water. Several patients remain under medical observation weeks after the outbreak, highlighting the seriousness of the crisis.

The Congress leader later travelled to Bhagirathpura, identified as the worst-hit locality, where the water contamination claimed 24 lives and infected more than a thousand residents. Over 200 critically affected people had to be hospitalised following complaints of vomiting, diarrhoea, and acute dehydration that surfaced around December 30, 2025.

Walking through the narrow lanes of Bhagirathpura, Gandhi met grieving families and personally visited the homes of those who lost their lives. He listened to residents recount how contaminated water entered the supply system and how complaints allegedly went unheard for days.

Expressing anger over the situation, Rahul Gandhi questioned the government’s governance claims, asking, “What kind of a smart city it is where even clean drinking water seems like a distant dream?”

Speaking to reporters after meeting the affected families, Gandhi said, “These people are simply asking for systematic work to be done and for clean water to be provided. They're not asking for anything unreasonable. They want the government to fulfil its responsibility. I've come here to support them.”

He was accompanied during the visit by Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari and senior leader Sajjan Singh Verma, who also interacted with local residents and hospital authorities.

Commenting on the significance of Gandhi’s visit, Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Umang Singhar said the objective was to understand the tragedy at ground level. “Rahul Gandhi wants to comprehend this. Undoubtedly, this incident is a stain on Indore. The Constitution grants us the right to clean water; it is the municipal corporation's responsibility, but why is it not being provided?” Singhar said.