A recent tragedy in Indore, where contaminated drinking water led to widespread illness and infant death, highlights a systemic public health threat across urban India. Aging infrastructure, population pressure, and inadequate sewage-drinking water separation contribute to unsafe water risks. Waterborne diseases like diarrhea and cholera disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, with climate change exacerbating these dangers. The incident underscores that civic hygiene ratings are insufficient without reliable safe drinking water.