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.

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*Freelance journalist