Bhopal Gas Disaster (BGD) didn’t only impact human health but inflicted huge social costs on marginalized communities! How? Read the infographic!

On the night of 2nd December and 3rd December 1984, poisonous gas – methyl isocyanate – leaked from the Union Carbide Pesticide Plant which was located in the middle of the city, killing up to 30,000 people and exposing more than half a million people in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

BGD is by far the most brutal and biggest industrial disaster that ever happened in human history. There is no official record of how many people died in this tragedy.

Several studies have been undertaken in the past to study the impact of the disaster on human health.

In one such recent study by researchers at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), it was highlighted how the ones exposed to this disaster are at a high risk of developing cancer. Moreover, the study went on to highlight how BGD inflicted huge social and economic costs on poor families who are the primary victims of the tragedy. Disability, loss of employment, poor access to education are some major challenges that local communities continue to face in Bhopal.

Findings of the study also bring our attention to an extremely important concept of environmental equity and who shares the burden of growing environmental pollution and hazards. Is it the marginalized and the most vulnerable groups of our society? If yes, then it is critical to examine our laws and policies and the role they can play in keeping equity and justice at the core of climate action and environmental advocacy.

This infographic captures the key findings of the study and shares some other important information on BGD and its impact on public health.

Research by: Rishabh Shrivastava, TA 

Designed by: Aishwarya Poddar, TA 

The Analysis (TA) is a research and communication group working on issues of law and public policy in India. Feel free to share your submissions with us at contact@theanalysis.org.in