December 3rd marked the 25th anniversary of the worldâs worst industrial disaster. On that date in 1984 a Union Carbide (now Dow Chemicals) pesticide plant in Bhopal India, released methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas into the city, exposing more than 500,000 people to MIC and other chemicals. The immediate death toll was over 3,000. Within 72 hours another 10,000 Bhopalis died. More than two decades on, over 20,000 people have died and 100,000 more still suffer severe, chronic and disabling illnesses: victims are plagued by breathing difficulties, damaged eyesight, reproductive complications, rising cancer rates and a range of other ailments that affect nearly every system of their assaulted bodies. 25 years later Bhopalis and their supporters are still seeking justice and reparations from Union Carbide/Dow Chemicals for medical cost and chemical clean up.
Salimah Vaiya, News Now Thurs, CHRY 105.5fm Toronto