The Disaster in Bhopal, India

The Disaster in Bhopal, India

The Gist

December 3rd marked the 30th anniversary of the Union Carbide explosion in Bhopal, India that killed several thousand and affected hundreds of thousands more. The plant's owner, Union Carbide, still contends the accident was an act of sabotage by a disgruntled employee (not, as many others contend, by lax safety protocols). Photographer Raghu Rai took heart wrenching photos of Bhopal in the days after the disaster and recently returned to photograph the people of Bhopal. To this day, many survivors suffer serious ailments or have children with birth defects because of the initial exposure to the toxic gas (or later exposure to contaminated drinking water). The area also has an alarmingly high cancer rate. Although the Indian government brought criminal charges against Union Carbide and its then chairman Warren Anderson (who has since passed away), both refused to partake in any proceeding. Union Carbide (now owned by Dow Chemical) provided $470 million to victims (activist say this is only half of what experts say is necessary to rehabilitate survivors). An Indian court recently sent Dow Chemical a summons to explain why it’s wholly owned subsidiary has not taken responsibility for their part in the worst industrial accident in history. If, like many suspect, Dow Chemical ignores the summons, the thousands of activists and survivors will simply keep shouting until one can’t help but listen…and now you know the gist.