Bhopal gas tragedy: Effects of leak seen in next generation of survivors, says ex-forensic doctor

Bhopal, Nov 24: The effects of poisonous gases that leaked from the Union Carbide factory in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal 40 years ago were seen in the next generations of those who survived the tragedy, a former government forensic doctor has said.

At least 3,787 people were killed, and more than five lakh were affected after a toxic gas leaked from the pesticide factory in the city on the intervening night of December 2 and 3, 1984.

Speaking at an event held by organisations of gas tragedy survivors on Saturday, Dr D K Satpathy, former head of the forensics department of Bhopal’s Gandhi Medical College, said he performed 875 post-mortems on the first day of the disaster and witnessed 18,000 autopsies the next five years.

Sathpathy claimed Union Carbide had denied questions about the effects of poisonous gases on unborn children of women survivors and said effects would not cross the placental barrier in the womb in any condition.

He said blood samples of pregnant women who died in the tragedy were examined, and it was found that 50 per cent of poisonous substances found in the mother were also found in the child in her womb.

Children born to surviving mothers had the poisonous substances in their system, and this affected the health of the next generation, Sathpathy claimed and questioned why research on this was stopped.

Such effects will continue for generations, he said.

Satpathy said it was said that MIC gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant, and when it came in contact with water, thousands of gases were formed, and some of these caused cancer, blood pressure and liver damage.

Rachna Dhingra of Bhopal Group for Information and Action said Satpathy, who carried out most autopsies, and other first responders in the 1984 disaster, including the senior doctors in the emergency ward and persons involved in mass burials, narrated their experiences during the event.

Rashida Bee, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, a poster exhibition covering every aspect of the disaster will be held till December 4 to mark the 40th anniversary of the tragedy.

An anniversary rally will be organised, with focus on global corporate crimes such as industrial pollution and climate change, she said. (PTI)

Hot this week

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

4 injured in clash in Nagaland

Kohima, Mar 31: At least four persons were injured...

Eid celebrated with religious fervour in Nagaland

Kohima, Mar 31: Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with religious fervour...

Six drug traffickers, 4 poppy cultivators arrested in Manipur

Imphal, Mar 31: Six alleged drug traffickers and four...

Kerala Minister Sivankutty urges ASHA workers to send their cut hair to Centre

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 31: Kerala Labour Minister V Sivankutty on...

Gas cylinder blast triggers fire at market in Varanasi; no one injured

Varanasi, Mar 31: A gas cylinder explosion triggered...

Fr Bernard Laloo new Auxiliary Bishop of Shillong Archdiocese

Shillong, Mar 31: Father Bernard Laloo was officially ordained...

Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma: The Visionary Leader Who Redefined Bodo Identity

By Dipak Kurmi Upendra Nath Brahma, fondly remembered as "Thopen"...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img