11 June, 2010

Bhopal gas leak: Medical data suppressed



The Bhopal disaster or Bhopal Gas Tragedy was an industrial catastrophe that occurred on the night of December 3, 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. At that time, UCIL was the Indian subsidiary of the U.S. company Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), which is now a subsidiary of Dow Chemical Company. Around midnight on the intervening night of December 2–3, 1984, there was a leak of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas and other toxins from the plant, resulting in the exposure of over 500,000 people. Estimates vary on the death toll. The official immediate death toll was 2,259 and the government of Madhya Pradesh has confirmed a total of 3,787 deaths related to the gas release. Other government agencies estimate 15,000 deaths.

Since the day they were hit by the deadly Methyl Isocynate (MIC) gas, the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy have been suffering with various health problems. Rayeesa Bi has had breathing problems. She has lost her eyesight and is bed-ridden; 14-year-old Suraj was born with congenital deformities, so was Kartikey and Khushi living in the same neighbourhood. Their parents are all gas victims.