Indore Bhagirathpura Water Tragedy Probe Clears Three Ex-IMC Chiefs, Holds Three Officials Liable

A judicial inquiry commission investigating the Bhagirathpura water contamination tragedy has concluded that former additional commissioners Bhavya Mittal and Rohit Sisonia, along with executive engineer Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava, bear primary responsibility for the lapses that led to the deaths of at least 35 people. The commission, headed by Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, submitted its final report to the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

The panel cleared three former IMC commissioners - current district collector Shivam Verma, Dilip Kumar Yadav and Pratibha Pal, as well as former additional commissioner Abhilash Mishra, finding no evidence they were negligent or failed in their duties. Yadav, who assumed the municipal commissioner role on Sep 11, 2025, took immediate administrative and emergency action upon learning of the contamination.

The commission also noted Verma's departure from the commissioner's position on Feb 9, 2025, prior to the tender opening, absolving him of any blame for delays. It found no delay in laying water lines during the tenure of the other officers, granting them a clean bill of health. The delay in the water supply system's rollout appeared to stem from an unexplained 10-day lag between the Tender Committee's approval and further approval from the designated authorities.

Rohit Sisonia was additionally held accountable in a supervisory capacity. The tender's estimated value fell within the financial threshold for which the additional commissioner held the power to give final approval.