Bhopal Gas Tragedy: 40 Years On, Suffering Persists Across Generations

Decades after the 1984 disaster, survivors and their descendants continue to battle health crises, environmental contamination, and inadequate compensation.

The 1984 leak of toxic methyl isocyanate gas from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal killed an estimated 25,000 people and affected over 600,000 residents, with long-term health and environmental impacts still unfolding.
Studies reveal higher rates of respiratory illnesses, cancers, and congenital deformities among survivors and their descendants, with exposed populations facing significantly shorter lifespans.
Efforts to secure additional compensation for victims have been repeatedly dismissed, with the 1989 settlement providing only $470 million, far below the $3 billion initially sought by advocacy groups.
Over 330 metric tonnes of hazardous waste remain at the abandoned factory site, continuing to contaminate local water and soil, while government-led cleanup efforts have been slow and incomplete.
Activists and victims lament the lack of accountability for Union Carbide and its successor Dow Chemical, as well as insufficient government action to provide justice and comprehensive support for affected communities.

Amnesty International

The Economist

Free Press Journal