Bhopal
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy, a proposal to celebrate December 3 as ‘National Chemical Disaster Awareness Day’ was presented in the US Parliament. The resolution was introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley and House of Representatives members Pramila Jayapal and Rashida Tlaib. The proposal mentions the India-US agreement signed in 2001, which talked about cooperation for justice. Union Carbide owner Dow Inc. was also appealed to fulfill its judicial responsibilities.
consequences of neglecting security
Senator Jeff Merkley said chemical disasters are often the result of companies ignoring safety and prioritizing profits. The Bhopal tragedy destroyed millions of lives and its impact is still being felt today.
Union Carbide’s negligence
The resolution referred to charges of culpable homicide against Union Carbide and its CEO Warren Anderson. Despite ongoing proceedings in an Indian court, the company and its representatives did not appear in court.
demand compensation
Pramila Jayapal said that Union Carbide and Dow Chemical should compensate the victims. Rashida Tlaib said Dow took responsibility for the tragedy when it acquired Union Carbide. Even after 40 years, the victims are still waiting for justice. Now Dow will have to compensate for the loss.
Purpose of Awareness Day
The MPs appreciated the struggles of the tragedy victims and stressed on spreading awareness to prevent such incidents. The aim of this initiative is to make people aware of the dangers of chemical disasters and to prioritize the protection of human rights. This is an important part of America’s foreign policy.
A look at Bhopal gas tragedy
The night of 2-3 December 1984 is recorded in Indian history as such a horrific incident that it is difficult to forget. This incident was the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, which left an indelible mark on humanity. Methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from the pesticide plant of Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) located in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, took the lives of thousands of people and caused physical and mental suffering to millions of people. This industrial accident is considered to be one of the world’s worst industrial accidents.
About 30 thousand people died in this incident
More than one lakh people were affected by the immediate impact of the Bhopal gas tragedy. However, there is still controversy over the death toll in this tragedy. According to government figures, about 30 thousand people were killed instantly in this incident. Whereas other human rights organizations and experts say that this number was much higher. In some reports this number is said to be 8 thousand to 10 thousand. The effects of the gas not only resulted in deaths but also left thousands of people seriously injured. Many of these people were affected physically and mentally and are still suffering today. This figure increases even further when we consider the long-term effects. Many people suffered from respiratory diseases, cancer, eye irritation, skin lesions and mental disorders for a long time after the tragedy. Additionally, pregnant women gave birth to disabled children and the health of unborn children was seriously affected.
