Indore ranked first as India’s cleanest city continuously for eight years from 2017-18 to 2024-25. The city was preparing to retain the first rank for the ninth consecutive year in 2025-26. Unfortunately, the recent water contamination disaster claiming lives has shattered that ambition. In Bhagirathpura locality of Indore, about 30 people lost their lives and more than 1,400 fell ill after consuming contaminated drinking water supplied by the municipality.