Bhopal:
Today, December 3, 2009, India marks 25 years of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the biggest industrial accident in the world. But thousands of people, mostly from utterly poor families whose homes were the epicente of the tragedy, still need urgent medical help.
Since the day they were hit by the gas, Rayeesa Bi has had breathing problems, has lost her eyesight and is bed-ridden.
Nirmala Devi's platelet count has gone down to a dangerous level.
Fourteen-year-old Suraj was born with congenital deformities. So was Kartikey and Khushi living in the same neighbourhood. Their parents are all gas victims.
But doctors routinely turn them away saying they are not gas affected. Even the facts at virtually every level have been facts suppressed or dismissed.
The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), which was to investigate the long-term effects of the industrial disaster, stopped their studies within a decade. Now, the victims are told they have no long-term effects since there's no proof of that.
"I was the principal investigator for five projects, which were long-term projects and I looked after it for 6-7 years. One of this was the effect of the gas on the offspring of pregnant women. Initially there were lot of abortions. The incidents of abortion were 24 per cent higher as compared to normal women, that is 49.39 per cent. My point is that these studies were done under my supervision for six years. And for all these studies we had large number of staff. Money was lavishly spent by ICMR. All the data was collected, we were analysing and preparing it. But when we asked the ICMR for permission to publication of data from time to time, they said 'no, you need not publish'. At no stage were we allowed to publish any data or give any lectures," said Nr Bhandari.
In response, the ICMR says they did study the effects for 10 years, but didn't feel the need to continue. They also say they have published all the reports in a book.
Strangely enough, the book did not have NR Bhandari's name anywhere. And the publication dated 1987, just three years later, can hardly be considered long term.
The government also clearly dismisses the claim that exposure to the deadly Methyl Iso Cyanide (MIC) gas is a cause for congenital deformities, or for the high incidence of cancer.
The government's own medical evidence works against the gas victims, it in fact helps the Union Carbide's claims. But what's harder to dismiss are the innumerable independent reports that show how dangerous the gas has been for its victims even 25 years later.
Since the day they were hit by the gas, Rayeesa Bi has had breathing problems, has lost her eyesight and is bed-ridden.
Nirmala Devi's platelet count has gone down to a dangerous level.
Fourteen-year-old Suraj was born with congenital deformities. So was Kartikey and Khushi living in the same neighbourhood. Their parents are all gas victims.
But doctors routinely turn them away saying they are not gas affected. Even the facts at virtually every level have been facts suppressed or dismissed.
The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), which was to investigate the long-term effects of the industrial disaster, stopped their studies within a decade. Now, the victims are told they have no long-term effects since there's no proof of that.
"I was the principal investigator for five projects, which were long-term projects and I looked after it for 6-7 years. One of this was the effect of the gas on the offspring of pregnant women. Initially there were lot of abortions. The incidents of abortion were 24 per cent higher as compared to normal women, that is 49.39 per cent. My point is that these studies were done under my supervision for six years. And for all these studies we had large number of staff. Money was lavishly spent by ICMR. All the data was collected, we were analysing and preparing it. But when we asked the ICMR for permission to publication of data from time to time, they said 'no, you need not publish'. At no stage were we allowed to publish any data or give any lectures," said Nr Bhandari.
In response, the ICMR says they did study the effects for 10 years, but didn't feel the need to continue. They also say they have published all the reports in a book.
Strangely enough, the book did not have NR Bhandari's name anywhere. And the publication dated 1987, just three years later, can hardly be considered long term.
The government also clearly dismisses the claim that exposure to the deadly Methyl Iso Cyanide (MIC) gas is a cause for congenital deformities, or for the high incidence of cancer.
The government's own medical evidence works against the gas victims, it in fact helps the Union Carbide's claims. But what's harder to dismiss are the innumerable independent reports that show how dangerous the gas has been for its victims even 25 years later.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
