28/02/2017
On the night of December 2nd, 1984, water entered a tank containing the toxic MIC chemical at the Union Carbide India factory. The resultant reaction led to about 30 metric tons of toxic gas escaping into the atmosphere. About 500,000 people were affected by the leak, of which around 2500 died instantly. The effects of the leak are still borne by successors of the tragedy. However, what is perhaps even more haunting than the effects of the leak, is the lackadaisical attitude adopted by the Indian government when it came to awarding justice to the victims.
When Warren Anderson, the then CEO of Union Carbide flew to India 4 days after the accident, he was granted bail and disappeared immediately, failing to return. He passed away in September this year, leaving millions of Indians without proper justice. Not only did the Indian government treat the matter casually and not enforce justice, the settlement of $470 million the victims were entitled to never reached them completely. A paltry sum of Rs 25,000 was offered to those injured and Rs 1,000,000 to the family member of a deceased. Most of the amount did not reach the people, and there are many who are still participating in protests and appealing to the government for releasing their compensation amount.
