Skip to main content

The Bhopal gas disaster: A tragic testament to corporate greed and state complicity

By Harsh Thakor* 
December 4 marked the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, one of the worst industrial disasters in history. On the night of December 2, 1984, approximately 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC), a highly toxic gas, leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal. Within hours, the city was engulfed in a deadly cloud, leaving thousands dead and many more blind or incapacitated. The tragedy exposed the deadly consequences of corporate greed and governmental neglect, underscoring the hazards of unregulated industrialization.
The disaster highlighted the complicity between the Indian state and multinational corporations. Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) prioritized profits over safety, and the Indian government, subservient to corporate interests, failed to enforce adequate safety regulations. Unlike UCC’s U.S. plants, the Bhopal facility lacked essential safety mechanisms. Critical safety systems were inoperative on the night of the gas leak, and local authorities were unaware of the plant's chemical hazards.
UCC’s response was equally callous. Even as thousands suffered from exposure, the company withheld vital information about MIC’s toxicology. To this day, UCC has not disclosed the full list of chemicals that leaked, leaving survivors and medical professionals in the dark about the long-term health impacts.
The immediate toll was staggering: up to 10,000 people died within three days. Over time, the death toll rose to an estimated 22,000, with more than half a million suffering chronic illnesses. Children born to survivors face birth defects and developmental issues. Thousands of tons of toxic waste remain buried at the site, contaminating the water supply and perpetuating the cycle of suffering.
Economically, the disaster devastated impoverished communities. Many families lost their primary breadwinners, leaving women and children disproportionately affected.
In 1989, the Indian government settled with UCC for $470 million—far below the damages incurred. This deal excluded numerous claims, including those of gas-exposed children and later-born offspring who suffered long-term effects. Attempts to prosecute UCC and its executives have largely failed, with U.S. authorities shielding the corporation from accountability.
Dow Chemical, which acquired UCC in 2001, denies any responsibility, arguing it never owned or operated the plant at the time of the disaster. Despite its claims of upholding human rights, Dow has done little to address the survivors' ongoing suffering.
Despite some legal reforms after the tragedy, such as amendments to the Factories Act and the Public Liability Insurance Act, enforcement has been lax. High court and Supreme Court rulings have also failed to secure justice. For example, a 2007 order to provide clean drinking water benefited only a fraction of the affected population.
Survivor groups have been at the forefront of seeking justice. They have initiated legal actions, conducted scientific research, and established medical facilities like the Sambhavna Trust Clinic and Chingari Rehabilitation Centre. These institutions provide critical care to thousands of gas-affected individuals, filling the gap left by government inaction.
On the eve of the 40th anniversary, survivors and activists held a torch rally in Bhopal, demanding accountability from both U.S. corporations and successive Indian governments. They denounced leaders for failing to provide justice and highlighted the ongoing health, environmental, and economic impacts of the tragedy.
Survivors continue to fight for their rights, refusing to let the world forget the corporate crime that devastated their city. As former Bhoj Open University vice-chancellor Kamlakar Singh noted, “The story of Bhopal should not be one where corporations escape accountability. It must be about how justice is served and responsibility is enforced.”
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy remains a haunting reminder of the dangers of unregulated industrial activity and the cost of prioritizing profits over human lives. It calls for stronger corporate accountability, robust safety regulations, and unwavering support for those affected. The struggle for justice continues, as survivors and their advocates persist in seeking redress for a disaster that still claims lives four decades later.
---
*Freelance journalist

Comments

TRENDING

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy  Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

Beyond his riding skill, Karl Umrigar was admired for his radiance, sportsmanship, and affability

By Harsh Thakor*  Karl Umrigar's name remains etched in the annals of Indian horse racing, a testament to a talent tragically cut short. An accident on the racetrack at the tender age of nineteen robbed India of a rider on the cusp of greatness. Had he survived, there's little doubt he would have ascended to international stature, possibly becoming the greatest Indian jockey ever. Even 46 years after his death, his name shines brightly, reminiscent of an inextinguishable star. His cousin, Pesi Shroff, himself blossomed into one of the most celebrated jockeys in Indian horse racing.

PUCL files complaint with SC against Gujarat police, municipal authorities for 'unlawful' demolitions, custodial 'violence'

By A Representative   The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Justice of India, urging the Supreme Court to initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against the police and municipal authorities in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The complaint alleges that these officials have engaged in unlawful demolitions and custodial violence, in direct violation of a Supreme Court order issued in November 2024.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das*  India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

Haven't done a good deed, inner soul is cursing me as sinner: Aurangzeb's last 'will'

Counterview Desk The Tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the strong Mughal emperors, located in Khuldabad, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, has this epitaph inscribed on it: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e maa ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast" (the rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave).

CPM’s evaluation of BJP reflects its political character and its reluctance to take on battle against neo-fascism

By Harsh Thakor*  A controversial debate has emerged in the revolutionary camp regarding the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s categorization of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Many Communists criticize the CPM’s reluctance to label the BJP as a fascist party and India as a fascist state. Various factors must be considered to arrive at an accurate assessment. Understanding the original meaning and historical development of fascism is essential, as well as analyzing how it manifests in the present global and national context.

State Human Rights Commission directs authorities to uphold environmental rights in Vadodara's Vishwamitri River Project

By A Representative  The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) has ordered state and Vadodara municipal authorities to strictly comply with environmental and human rights safeguards during the Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project, stressing that the river’s degradation disproportionately affects marginalized communities and violates citizens’ rights to a healthy environment.  The Commission mandated an immediate halt to ecologically destructive practices, rehabilitation of affected communities, transparent adherence to National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, and public consultations with experts and residents.   The order follows the Concerned Citizens of Vadodara coalition—environmentalists, ecologists, and urban planners—submitting a detailed letter to authorities, amplifying calls for accountability. The group warned that current plans to “re-section” and “desilt” the river contradict the NGT’s 2021 Vishwamitri River Action Plan, which prioritizes floodpla...

How polarization between different ideological trends within the communist movement sharpened in India

By Harsh Thakor*  This article is a rejoinder to A Note on Slogans of “Left Unity,” “Unity of the Communist Revolutionaries” and “Mass Line” by Umair Ahmed, published on the Nazariya blog .

Vadodara citizens urge authorities to adhere to environmental mandates in Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project

By A Representative   A coalition of environmental activists, ecologists, and urban planners in Vadodara has issued an urgent appeal to state and municipal authorities, demanding strict compliance with court-mandated guidelines for the upcoming Vishwamitri River rejuvenation project. Scheduled to commence in March 2025, the initiative aims to mitigate flooding and restore the river, but citizens warn that current plans risk violating National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders and jeopardizing the river’s fragile ecosystem, home to endangered species like crocodiles and Indian Softshell Turtles.  

Implications of deaths of Maoist leaders G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya in Chhattisgarh

By Harsh Thakor*  In the wake of recent security operations in southern Chhattisgarh, two senior Maoist leaders, G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya, were killed. These operations, which took place amidst a historically significant Maoist presence, resulted in the deaths of 31 individuals on March 20th and 16 more three days prior.