Survivors of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Demand Justice After 40 Years

Bhopal, Dec 3 (NationPress) Carrying banners, flyers, and photographs, the survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy participated in a protest march on the 40th anniversary of this catastrophic chemical disaster. During the demonstration, a significant number of women, men, and children marched around the deserted factory site, chanting the slogan 'Bhopal Ka Insaaf Karo'.

The demonstrators, holding an effigy symbolizing 'corporate crime', criticized various local, national, and international leaders, as well as relief organizations, for their ongoing failure to deliver justice and uphold the dignity of the tragedy's survivors.

Rachna Dhingra, a representative from the Bhopal Group for Information and Action, stated that the protest aimed to amplify the survivors' calls for justice.

In an interview with IANS, Dhingra asserted: 'The business of Union Carbide Corporation, now owned by Dow Chemical, in India has surged by over tenfold, yet the government has not delivered justice to the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy.'

'We hope that President Donald Trump will end the long-standing injustice in Bhopal as part of his agenda to restore America's greatness. We expect him to take action against the Union Carbide Corporation and Dow Chemical.'

Balkrishna Namdeo, another activist advocating for justice, noted that current scientific research highlights the ongoing health issues and fatalities among the half a million survivors, including health problems affecting their children.

He also criticized both the Central and Madhya Pradesh governments for the 'prolonged delay' in relocating hazardous chemicals still present at the factory site.

'In a decade, the groundwater in Bhopal, which should have been cleaned by Dow Chemical as per the polluter pays principle, has contaminated up to three kilometers into the city.'

On the night of December 2-3, 1984, a lethal gas known as methyl isocyanate (MIC) escaped from Union Carbide's pesticide manufacturing facility, resulting in ongoing devastation for countless survivors.

Interestingly, the exact death toll from this chemical disaster remains a subject of debate among authorities. Various surveys conducted over the years have reported conflicting figures regarding the casualties.

Earlier studies estimated the number of fatalities to be between 5,000 and 6,000, while other assessments have placed the death toll as high as 15,000. Some reports even suggest that the fatalities could exceed one hundred thousand, but precise data on casualties remains elusive.

For example, a report by the Indian Council of Medical Research indicated that as many as 9,667 deaths were linked to the disaster by 1994, based on surveys conducted between 1984 and 1993.

Furthermore, reports have indicated that thousands of children are being born with congenital defects. A global toxic hotspot exists in the city center, contaminating the soil and groundwater, affecting over two hundred thousand residents.