Forty years ago, on the intervening night of December 2-3, a terrible tragedy struck Bhopal as highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) leaked from American company Union Carbide’s pesticide factory in the city.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav paid homage to the victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy on the disaster’s 40th anniversary on Tuesday.

The Bhopal gas tragedy, which occurred 40 years ago, continues to impact survivors and their descendants with chronic health issues like cancer and lung diseases. Studies reveal that children born to survivors often have congenital disabilities,

In the intervening hours of December 2 and December 3 1984, poisonous methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbine chemical plant on the outskirts of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, instantly killing thousands and maiming lakhs of others.

Survivors march on the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy, demanding justice and accountability from Union Carbide and Dow Chemical

Even after 40 years, neither Union Carbide nor its employees have faced any real consequences for their role in the disaster. Survivors and families of the dead are still fighting for proper compensation. Worse, the toxic effects of the gas continue to poison successive generations.

Just after midnight as poisonous plumes of smoke wafted through the Indian city of Bhopal four decades ago, Gas Devi was born, gasping for every breath.

A study published in July 2023, done after examining 92,320 victims, revealed that men above the age of 21 were more impacted than others.

Forty years have passed since the Bhopal gas tragedy occurred, but responsibility for one of the biggest industrial disasters in the world is yet to be fixed. The government generally takes credit for acting on trivial issues.