The poisonous gases that leaked from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, 40 years ago continue to impact the next generations of survivors, according to a former government forensic doctor.
At least 3,787 people lost their lives, and over 500,000 were affected when toxic gases escaped from the pesticide plant on the night of 2-3 December 1984.
Speaking at an event organised by groups supporting gas tragedy survivors, Dr D.K. Satpathy, former head of the forensics department at Bhopal’s Gandhi Medical College, revealed he conducted 875 post-mortems on the first day of the disaster and witnessed 18,000 autopsies over the next five years.
Dr Satpathy alleged that Union Carbide dismissed concerns about the gases' impact on unborn children, claiming they could not cross the placental barrier. However, blood samples from pregnant victims showed that 50% of the toxins found in the mother were also present in the foetus. Children born to survivors were found to carry these toxins, which affected their health and likely that of future generations, he said.
He questioned why research into these long-term effects was abandoned, noting that the gases formed after methyl isocyanate (MIC) reacted with water caused severe conditions such as cancer, hypertension, and liver damage.
Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action said Dr Satpathy and other first responders, including emergency ward doctors and individuals involved in mass burials, shared their experiences during the event.
Rashida Bee, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, announced a poster exhibition detailing the tragedy’s history, which will run until 4 December. She added that an anniversary rally would focus on global corporate crimes, including industrial pollution and climate change.
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