Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is set to visit Indore on Saturday and meet the families of victims who succumbed allegedly due to the consumption of contaminated water of the Narmada river supplied by the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) through taps in households of the Bhagirathpura locality of the city.
According to Congress leaders, Rahul Gandhi would also visit the Bombay Hospital to meet patients who are still undergoing treatment there after the outbreak of vomiting, diarrhoea, and dehydration, linked to contaminated drinking water.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari claimed to media persons on Friday that at least 24 people had died so far due to contaminated drinking water in the Bhagirathpura area, while the condition of about 10 patients remained critical.
Patwari said Rahul Gandhi would meet patients in the hospital and also visit Bhagirathpura to express condolences to the families of the deceased.
The Congress had also planned a meeting at Indore’s Abhay Khel Prashal, where Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to address and interact with Congress leaders, urban local body representatives, environmentalists, and intellectuals from across the state.
However, that meeting has been called off, as the Indore district administration and police denied permission for it. The Congress had sought permission for a gathering of around 1000 people.
“Therefore, we will organize this conference at a later date,” Patwari said.
As per Congress leaders, Rahul Gandhi is expected to arrive at Indore by special plane at around 11 AM. He is scheduled to meet patients at Bombay Hospital from 11:45 to 12:15 pm and then proceed to Bhagirathpura to meet bereaved families from 12:45 pm to 1:45 pm.
At 2.30 pm, Rahul Gandhi would depart from Indore for New Delhi.