India – Indore: Despite its reputation as India’s cleanest city and often called “Mini Mumbai,” Indore is grappling with a severe water crisis, with residents taking to the streets and even staging unusual protests demanding basic water supply amid rising summer temperatures.
On Sunday, several parts of the city, including Malwa Mill and Palda, witnessed road blockade protests as residents complained of irregular water supply over the past several days. Locals alleged that taps have gone dry and borewells—once a key backup source—have also begun failing due to the intense heat.
The protests escalated into dramatic scenes when Congress councillor Raju Bhadoria, representing Ward 75, staged a sit-in and reportedly prostrated himself before police and municipal officials during the demonstration. Videos of the incident circulating on social media showed him pleading for urgent intervention.
“Sir, give us water, else people will die,” Bhadoria was seen saying in a widely shared video, while also criticising the administration for using water cannons on protesters instead of ensuring water supply. His actions drew attention from gathered residents, many of whom echoed similar grievances.
Residents, particularly women and elderly citizens, said they are being forced to travel long distances in search of drinking water. In several localities, they claimed tanker supplies are either delayed or insufficient to meet daily requirements.
Bhadoria accused the civic body of mismanagement and questioned the effectiveness of ongoing urban development schemes, including the “Smart City” initiative and “Water Plus City” claims, saying crores of rupees had been spent but basic civic needs remain unmet.
“As the heat intensifies, the water crisis continues to worsen. If an immediate solution is not found, the city will see larger protests,” he warned.
Responding to the allegations, Municipal Corporation Additional Commissioner Ashish Pathak said Narmada water is being supplied to storage tanks and that tanker services have been deployed in affected areas.
However, residents maintain that ground reality differs from official claims, stating that water tankers are either irregular or provide inadequate supply, leaving several neighbourhoods struggling to meet basic needs during peak summer demand.
पानी दे दो ..सर पानी दे दो.. बूढ़े, बच्चे और जवान जनता मर जाएंगे.. इंदौर अपने इतिहास का सबसे बड़ा जलसंकट देख रहा है और राजा अमृतकाल का उत्सव बना रहा है #घोरकलजुग #indore pic.twitter.com/2kxLNwaS0N
— अपूर्व اپوروا Apurva Bhardwaj (@grafidon) May 24, 2026
