Bhopal gas tragedy: 27 years on

Bhopal: It's been 27 years since one of the worst tragedies in human history struck the city of Bhopal. But there is still no end to the sufferings of the victims and their families of Bhopal gas tragedy.

"We are gas victims. We still suffer from health problems. In the name of compensation we have been given only Rs 25000," said one of the victims.

"My husband died of cancer and I have got only Rs 25000. I am fight for Rs 6 lakh as compensation," said another.

And even as the victims fight for compensation, Dow Chemical - the company involved in the chemical disaster - is sponsoring the 7 million pound stadium wrap in London Olympics. The move has come as an insult to injury.

Former Olympians are angry at Dow Chemical's association with the Olympics.

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"Olympics has such a reputation that even the players participating need a character certificate and if a blacklisted company sponsors it then we players object to it," said Jalaluddin, a former Olympian.

And there are echoes in London as well. London assembly member Naveen Shah has flown down to Bhopal for the protests and to see the condition of the gas victims. He says they have started a signature campaign in London to disassociate Dow Chemical from the 2012 Games.

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"Once we collect all signatures, we are hoping to submit it to LOCOG and urge them to take back the sponsorship," said Mr Shah.

The gas victims refuse to give up. From Saturday, they will block railway tracks in Bhopal and now with support from former Olympians and UK politicians they hope to mount pressure on Dow Chemical to give them their due.

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