25 Years After Bhopal Disaster, Survivors Still Seeking Justice

Today marks the 25th anniversary of one of the worst industrial disasters of the 20th Century. Shortly after midnight on December 3rd, 1984 in the city of Bhopal, India, tons of lethal gases leaked from a pesticide factory run by the U.S. company, Union Carbide. Clouds of suffocating gases blanketed the city. Residents awoke with throats burning and tears streaming. The gases produced so much fluid in people’s lungs that many drowned in their own body fluids.
Between 8,000 to 10,000 people lost their lives within days. Thousands more died in the following years. Over 150,000 are still suffering chronic and debilitating illnesses. A new report released this week by the Bhopal Medical Appeal and a local clinic has found that there are still high levels of toxic chemicals in the drinking water supply in 15 communities near the old plant. Last week, Indian authorities decided against reopening the plant. They had announced they would open the factory to prove it no longer poses a threat to public safety but reversed the decision in the face of protests.

In August, an Indian court reissued an arrest warrant for the former CEO of Union Carbide, Warren Anderson. The court urged the Indian government to seek his extradition from the United States. In 2001, Union Carbide was bought out by US multinational Dow Chemical. The company has refused to clean up the spreading water contamination from the abandoned plant.

Today, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, supporters around the world will be participating in an International Day of Action, including mass rallies, “die-ins”, candle-lit vigils, protests and more.

I recently spoke with Bhopal Chemical Disaster activist Satinath Sarangi. Known as Sathyu, he is an engineer who arrived in Bhopal the day following the disaster and never left, founding a clinic to provide free care to survivors and becoming a key figure in the survivors’ struggle for justice. He was recently in the United States for a 22-city tour for the 25th Anniversary of the Bhopal Disaster called “No More Bhopals.” I began by asking him to talk about the Bhopal disaster.

Satinath Sarangi, founding trustee of a free clinic for the treatment of all those affected by the gas leak. He is also the founder of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action and has been involved with relief, research and advocacy around the ongoing health impacts on the residents of Bhopal.

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