Forty years ago, Bhopal, a city in central India, became the site of one of the world’s most devastating industrial disasters. On the night of December 2, 1984, a deadly gas leak from Union Carbide India’s pesticide plant unleashed toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) into the air, enveloping the city in a poisonous cloud that led to thousands of deaths and exposed over half a million people to the toxic gas.
The Immediate Aftermath
Within days of the leak, around 3,500 people were confirmed dead, while government estimates now place the total death toll at over 15,000. However, many activists argue that the true scale of the disaster is far higher, with ongoing suffering from health complications, even four decades later.
In 2010, an Indian court convicted seven former Union Carbide managers, handing them light fines and brief prison sentences. Yet, victims and campaigners argue that justice has still not been served, given the catastrophic scale of the tragedy.
Lingering Health Impacts
The Bhopal gas tragedy continues to affect survivors. A 2023 study published by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) found that men aged 21 and above were particularly impacted, with 6,609 deaths recorded between 1985 and 2015. The study indicated a mortality rate of 7.2%, revealing the ongoing health crisis.
Ongoing Legal Struggles
In 1989, Union Carbide reached a partial out-of-court settlement with the Indian government, agreeing to pay $470 million in compensation. However, the victims were not consulted in the settlement, and each received only a small amount—around $500. Despite the passage of time, current owners of Union Carbide, now Dow Chemicals, have refused to pay further compensation, leaving many victims without justice.
Health Crisis: A Legacy of Chronic Suffering
The physical toll on those exposed to the gas is devastating. Survivors still suffer from chronic respiratory issues, neurological damage, lung and heart diseases, and cancers. According to reports from the Sambhavna Trust, victims’ mortality rates remain 28% higher than the national average. Data from 2010 revealed that survivors are twice as likely to die from cancers, tuberculosis, and lung diseases, with kidney diseases and other health issues being more prevalent.
Women, particularly those who were babies in their mothers’ wombs during the disaster, have faced severe reproductive health problems, including infertility, stillbirths, and early menopause. Menstrual cycle irregularities have also been common among female survivors.
The Unseen Impact: Affected Future Generations
One of the most harrowing effects of the Bhopal gas tragedy is its impact on the next generation. Babies born to parents who were exposed to the toxic gas suffer from a wide range of birth defects, including muscular dystrophy, Down’s syndrome, and attention-deficit disorders. Research has shown that men born in Bhopal in 1985 have higher cancer rates and disabilities than those born before or after the disaster. Even those living up to 100 kilometers from the site were affected.
In a study conducted between January 2016 and June 2017, 9% of babies born to mothers who survived the disaster were found to have congenital malformations. In contrast, only 1.3% of babies born to unexposed mothers had similar issues.
The Chingari Children’s Centre, a facility for children born with disabilities due to the gas leak, has registered over 1,000 children. Most suffer from cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism, intellectual disabilities, and severe learning difficulties. The center’s founder, Rashida Bee, highlighted the ongoing suffering, stating, “The situation is getting worse, not better. We are seeing more and more second and third-generation children being born with such disabilities.”
A Tragic Legacy
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy remains a horrific chapter in India’s history. Its devastating effects are felt not just by the survivors but by their children and grandchildren, who continue to face the grim consequences of exposure to the toxic gas. Despite decades of legal and health struggles, the survivors’ fight for justice and compensation is far from over. As Bhopal marks 40 years since the tragedy, the city’s legacy is one of ongoing suffering, a stark reminder of the disaster’s intergenerational impact.
