In the early hours of December 3, 1984, toxic methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, enveloping the city in a deadly cloud. Among the countless affected was Gas Devi, born that night as residents fled the poisonous fumes. Today, she battles chronic chest pain and a malformed lung. “My life is a living hell,” Devi says, adding, “I wish I had died that night.”
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the world’s deadliest industrial disaster, claimed over 5,000 lives in its immediate aftermath, with up to 25,000 deaths attributed to long-term effects. Survivors continue to suffer from debilitating health issues, and toxic waste from the now-defunct factory still pollutes the environment.
Health Crisis Lingers
A recent study by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) analyzing 92,320 victims over 30 years found that gas-exposed individuals had a 1.3 times higher risk of death. Respiratory illnesses were the leading cause, and life expectancy for those exposed was significantly reduced.
Further analysis by Sambhavna Trust Clinic revealed gas-exposed patients suffer from respiratory diseases, depression, and hormonal disorders at rates 2–3 times higher than the unexposed. “Premature menopause is 2.6 times more frequent in exposed women,” noted Dr. Sonali Mittal.
Inadequate Compensation and Legal Battles
In 1989, Union Carbide agreed to a $470 million settlement with the Indian government, far below the initial demand of $3.3 billion. Victims received only ₹50,000 each after years of waiting. In 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking additional compensation, citing the original settlement as binding.
Social activist Rachna Dhingra condemned the lack of accountability: “Not a single person has served a day in jail for the deaths of over 25,000 people.” Warren Anderson, Union Carbide’s chairman at the time, was charged with culpable homicide but never stood trial, dying in the U.S. in 2014.
Toxic Legacy
Over 330 metric tonnes of hazardous waste remain at the site despite ₹126 crore allocated for its disposal. Rashida Bee of Chingari Trust, which supports gas-affected children, lamented, “The soil and water are still contaminated. Children are still being born with deformities.”
Ongoing Struggle for Justice
Survivors’ groups, like the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, continue to fight for adequate compensation. “The Supreme Court has ruled that any shortfall must be made good by the Indian government,” said Nawab Khan, the group’s president. Yet, many cancer and kidney disease victims were categorized as having only temporary injuries and received just ₹25,000 in compensation.
A City’s Unhealed Wounds
Murals on the walls of the Union Carbide plant depict the enduring anguish of Bhopal’s residents. But these images serve as reminders that the trauma of that fateful night, four decades ago, cannot be erased by compensation alone. “This tragedy is far from over,” Bee said. “The real tragedy is for those who survived.”
