36 years on, 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy survivors continue to suffer

By Pervez Bari  Bhopal:  Thirty-six years have passed since the 1984 December Bhopal gas tragedy, the world’s worst industrial disaster, but the survivors continue to suffer in silence with none to hear their woes.
On the occasion of the 36th Anniversary of the catastrophe, four NGOs working for the survivors formed a human chain near the long abandoned pesticide factory here on Thursday.
They condemned the continued evasion of legal liabilities by Dow Chemical, USA, the current owner of Union Carbide, for the ongoing damage to the health of the survivors and pollution of the local soil and groundwater. The organizations denounced the state and central governments for failing to make the corporation pay adequate compensation and denying the rights of the survivors to medical care and social support. They demanded formation of a special committee and action against the accused.
It may be recalled here that on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984 Union Carbide pesticide manufacturing factory in Bhopal had spewed nearly 40 tonnes of poisonous Methyl Iso-cyanate gas exposing over 5,00,000 people to the toxic fumes. While 3,000 people had perished virtually instantly and over the years more than 25,000 have kissed death and the sad saga is still continuing uninterruptedly. About half a million people are still suffering from the side effects of the poisonous gas and several thousand people have been maimed for life.
Meanwhile, on the eve of Bhopal gas tragedy, a series of torchlight rallies and candle light vigils were held after darkness fell as victims and activists jointly commemorated a night of horror 36 years ago.