Bhopal gas survivors protest ward shift from Kamala Nehru Hospital
Synopsis
Forty years after the world's worst industrial disaster, Bhopal gas survivors are still fighting for their healthcare rights. On 23 July, four survivor organisations protested a government plan to shift their dedicated emergency ward to a hospital radiology section — without, they allege, the required AERB safety clearance or an independent radiological assessment. The Supreme Court's own monitoring panel has reportedly objected. The fight is not just over a ward; it is over whether the state honours its obligations to those still living with the tragedy's consequences.
Key Takeaways
Survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy protested on 23 July at Kamala Nehru Hospital against a proposed ward relocation.
The Madhya Pradesh government plans to shift the emergency ward to the radiology section of Hamidia Hospital .
Protesters allege no independent radiological safety assessment was conducted before the proposal.
The AERB approval for the planned PET-CT facility reportedly does not permit a patient waiting area at the proposed site.
The Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee has reportedly written to the Additional Chief Secretary, Gas Relief Department , objecting to the relocation.
Survivors demand the PET-CT facility be shifted to Gandhi Medical College , as specified in the original tender.
Survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy on Thursday, 23 July staged a demonstration at Kamala Nehru Hospital in Bhopal, opposing the Madhya Pradesh government's proposal to relocate the dedicated emergency ward for gas victims. The protesters allege the move threatens specialised healthcare access and raises unresolved radiological safety concerns.
What the Protest Demanded
Members of four survivor organisations gathered at the hospital premises, demanding the state government withdraw the proposed relocation plan entirely. They called for the emergency ward to remain operational at Kamala Nehru Hospital and insisted that no radioactive infrastructure be built without mandatory approvals and a comprehensive public safety assessment.
What the Government Has Proposed
According to the protesters, the state government intends to shift the emergency ward to the radiology section of Hamidia Hospital, where a PET-CT facility is also being planned. The survivor groups allege the proposed relocation was planned without an independent radiological safety assessment — a claim the government has not publicly addressed as of the time of the protest.
The Regulatory Concern
The organisations further alleged that the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) approval granted for the proposed PET-CT facility does not permit a patient waiting area at the identified site. They also claimed that the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee had written to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Gas Relief Department, formally objecting to the relocation plan.
What Survivors and Leaders Said
Rashida Bi, leader of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Karmchari Sangh, said the proposal had caused serious concern among the gas victim community. 'The state government should withdraw its proposal to shift the emergency ward. Gas survivors require specialised medical care and any decision affecting their treatment should be taken only after ensuring all prescribed safety standards are met,' she said.
Rashida Bi further argued that the PET-CT facility should be established at Gandhi Medical College, as originally envisaged in the tender. 'The PET-CT centre should be shifted to Gandhi Medical College. Healthcare facilities meant for gas victims should not be relocated until all statutory approvals and safety assessments are in place,' she added.
Organisations Behind the Protest
The demonstration was organised by the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Karmchari Sangh, the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, the Bhopal Group for Information and Action, and allied welfare organisations. Their demands collectively include retaining the emergency ward at Kamala Nehru Hospital, relocating the PET-CT centre to Gandhi Medical College, and halting any radioactive bunker construction pending AERB clearance and a public safety review.
With the Supreme Court-appointed committee reportedly having already raised objections, the Madhya Pradesh government faces mounting institutional and community pressure to reconsider its plan.
Point of View
And the state's handling of this ward relocation proposal reflects how easily institutional memory fades. Moving a specialised emergency facility to a radiology section without a radiological safety assessment is not a bureaucratic oversight; it is a governance failure. The Supreme Court's monitoring committee objecting in writing should have been a hard stop. That the government has not publicly responded suggests either indifference or the assumption that survivor groups lack the political leverage to force accountability. Forty years on, that assumption deserves to be tested.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Bhopal gas survivors protesting the emergency ward shift?
Survivors are opposing the Madhya Pradesh government's plan to relocate their dedicated emergency ward from Kamala Nehru Hospital to the radiology section of Hamidia Hospital. They allege the move was planned without an independent radiological safety assessment and without full AERB clearance for a patient waiting area at the proposed site.
What is the AERB concern raised by the protesters?
The survivor organisations claim that the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) approval granted for the proposed PET-CT facility at Hamidia Hospital does not permit a patient waiting area at the identified location. They argue no radioactive bunker or related infrastructure should be built without comprehensive safety approvals.
Has any official body objected to the relocation plan?
According to the protesting organisations, the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee has written to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Gas Relief Department, formally expressing objections to the proposed relocation of the emergency ward.
Where do the survivors want the PET-CT facility to be set up?
The survivor groups demand the PET-CT facility be established at Gandhi Medical College, which they say was the location specified in the original tender for the project.
Which organisations participated in the protest?
The protest was organised by the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Karmchari Sangh, the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, the Bhopal Group for Information and Action, and other organisations working for the welfare of gas tragedy survivors.
