25th Anniversary of Bhopal disaster

Photo: Thousands of children whose parents were exposed to the leak have suffered birth defects [Reuters]

Twenty five years ago today, the city of Bhopal, India was hit by a deadly chemical leak from Union Carbide. I remember being appalled at the time – that they would let such a horrific thing happen. Hundreds died right away, and between 8,000 and 10,000 died in the next few days. Many thousands more have died horrible painful deaths since then.

According to this Al Jazeera news report, 25,000 later died from the effects. And another 500,000 were exposed and affected by the chemical release. And it has left a toxic legacy. Many have suffered from birth defects and many have suffered from chronic illnesses because of the chemical leak.

The clean up of the site has not been fully done, even to this day. Tons of toxic waste still contaminates the ground and the water.

Bhopal survivors demand action

The UK-based charity Bhopal Medical Appeal (BMA) said on Tuesday that there was evidence that "high levels of toxic chemicals" remained in the drinking water supply in 15 communities near the plant. Tests at Swiss and British laboratories indicated concentrations of some toxins were actually rising "as the chemicals leach through the soil and into the aquifer", it said.

….. A separate study also released on Tuesday by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), showed a hand-pump 3km from the former Union Carbide plant contained 110 times the maximum concentration of the pesticide carbaryl deemed safe in Indian bottled water.

At the time this happened, I was working in an ER in Cincinnati. I remember one of the young doctors there saying that these people injured or killed by this should not be reimbursed as well as Americans would, for the simple fact that they were not Americans. It seemed to me that she was saying that their lives were not worth as much. This upset me a great deal. I felt ever last victim should be taken care of for the rest of their lives. That never happened, and today the victims are protesting to get their medical needs met and the site cleaned up.

I don’t know how a doctor could be so insensitive to the plight of the victims. I hope she never had any kids.

The state government claims that the residual chemicals are harmless.

Union Carbide (now part of Dow Chemical) paid out a total of $470 million to the victims and never did clean the site up properly. The victims say that only part of this compensation reached the victims. And Dow Chemical today says it has no responsibility for this horrific disaster.

I hope these victims get a just compensation one day – the ones still alive, that is. I don’t know how Dow Chemical can just turn their back on these people.

Here is a link to some current pictures of the site today.