New Delhi: The day marks 37 years of the Bhopal Gas tragedy which left thousands dead and around a lakh affected officially. However, the victims still await justice as the criminal suit against Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) continues with no progress.
“Justice for the victims of Bhopal gas disaster is awaited even after 37 years, and many survivors are yet to receive adequate compensation. But none of the main culprits have been sent to jail, not even for a minute," said Rashida, head of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, reported IANS.
Bhopal Gas Tragedy— The Worst Industrial Disaster
The intervening night of December 2 and 3 proved to be the darkest night for the people around the Union Carbide’s pesticide plant. A leak of methyl isocyanate claimed more than two thousand lives officially and left thousands more affected for life and generations to come.
Although the unofficial number of deaths goes high as per the NGOs, the compensation for the official victims has still not reached them. The criminal case against the UCIL and its new owner Dow Chemicals is still pending after 37 years.
The problems did not end with the death of the victims as the toxic gas has passed on to generations leading to children still being born with disabilities. Doctors believe that these are the long-term effects of the gas which have been passed on to them from their parents and grandparents who inhaled it.
Richa Dhingra from Bhopal Group for Information and Action alleges that the center and the Madhya Pradesh government are unable to seek compensation from Dow chemicals and provide justice to the victims and rather they are “planning to build a memorial at the global toxic hotspot.”
According to IANS, the Madhya Pradesh government announced that they are going to organise a prayer meeting at the Barkatullah Bhawan, Bhopal on December 3.