Wed Dec 04 13:04:09 UTC 2024: ## Bhopal Gas Tragedy Survivors Mark 40th Anniversary with Protest
**BHOPAL, INDIA (December 3, 2024) –** On the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy, survivors marched through the city today, demanding justice and accountability from Union Carbide Corporation and Dow Chemical. Carrying banners, photographs, and an effigy representing corporate crime, the protesters circled the abandoned factory site, chanting “Bhopal Ka Insaaf Karo” (Give Bhopal Justice).
The protest, organized in part by the Bhopal Group for Information and Action, highlighted the ongoing health consequences suffered by an estimated half-million survivors and their children. Rachna Dhingra, a representative of the group, criticized the Indian government for its failure to secure justice, noting the significant growth of Dow Chemical’s Indian business while victims remain without adequate compensation. She expressed hope that US President-elect Donald Trump would take action against the companies.
Activist Balkrishna Namdeo further condemned the government’s slow response in removing hazardous chemicals from the factory site, pointing out that contaminated groundwater has spread three kilometers into the city. He emphasized the continuing health issues and deaths among survivors, a fact supported by numerous scientific studies.
The exact death toll from the 1984 methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leak remains disputed, with figures ranging from 5,000 to over 100,000. Reports also indicate widespread birth defects among the children of survivors. The legacy of the disaster continues to impact the lives of hundreds of thousands, leaving a toxic hotspot at the heart of Bhopal, contaminating soil and groundwater for over 200,000 people.
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