India Observes 25th Anniversary of Bhopal Gas Leak
Times of India, Posted: Dec 04, 2009
On the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal gas leak, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised early clean-up of the Union Carbide site and help for the population. The prime minister said the government would provide clean drinking water and conduct research into the health effects across generations of methyl isocyanate, which leaked from the Carbide plant. But the record belies the prime minister's statements, reports the Times of India. Recent research by Dr. Ganesh of the Cancer Registry in Bhopal has confirmed that genetic changes in gas-affected people lead to increased incidence of cancer, infertility and spontaneous abortions. Most hospitals charge patients for treatment despite a government order mandating all gas victims to be treated free of cost at government hospitals. The New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment released a report that said the ‘‘groundwater in areas even 3 km away from the factory site contains almost 40 times more pesticides than normal Indian standards.’’
Meanwhile, India's environment minister was criticized for picking up a handful of soil in Bhopal and proclaiming, ‘‘I held the toxic waste in my hand. I am still alive and not coughing. It’s 25 years after the gas tragedy. Let us move ahead.’’ He subsequently apologized. Although no official count of casualties has ever been done, estimates based on hospital and rehabilitation records indicate that about 20,000 people died and about 570,000 suffered bodily damage from the gas leak.
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User Comments
christina frm Arunachal. on Dec 06, 2009 at 08:25:34 said:
25yrs have been passed,poeple of Bhopal are still fighting for peackages and rehagilitation.The main culprit,the CEO of the UCC W.Andreson is in USA laughing at the apathy of the people and wondering how the India Govt. have been able to fool the people for 25yrs.To add to the insult of justice,The PM govt. is pressurizing the cental govt. to set up 116 crore memorial in Bhopal,instead of using the money to clean the water and atmosphere which is still contaminated.
christina kamsi frm Arunachal predesh. on Dec 06, 2009 at 08:05:57 said:
On 3rd dec 1984 around midnight about 40,000 tones of gas leaked from the tank no 610 of the UCC into the atmosphere of Bhopal.About 25,ooo people have died aftermath and new born children develop veroius biologocal dysfunctions.The underground wealth air and the surrounding still contain high degree of heavy metals.
But strangely on this land of Democracy n 'Sovereignty of people' as we boast,no one was punished for the tregedy.25 years have passed but not a single culprit has been punished.Warren Andreson the CEO of the UCC was told to leave the country immediately to USA,instead of arresting him for the negliagence of safety rules which wiped out thousands of people in BHOPAL.....
Does it have any lesson for us????????I just want the Youths to consider the facts.
Manik Modi on Dec 04, 2009 at 23:17:04 said:
i am happy to hear that our govt. will be undertaking all cares which would have been good to all peoples those who have lived there.
so if such a accident will happen means we have to take care about all these things which will occure at that place.
Roger Mottet on Dec 04, 2009 at 11:42:10 said:
The way the Government of India has hadled this case is a disgrace. Your article is still beneath reality as it doesn't even mention the hundres who die and the thousands contaminated yearly by the remnants of Union Carbide toxic chemicals.
-->As for your environment Minister, it reminds the declaration of the fool Margareth Thatcher, who, after having banned for years tobacco smoking, all of a sudden became the minister of Tobacco and declared: "look, tobacco is no danger, I touched a cigarette, and I didn't get a lung cancer."