Press Release

December 01, 2006

SAMBHAVA EXHIBITION INAUGURATED BY DOCTOR WHO PERFORMED BHOPAL AUTOPSIES AFTER THE 1984 DISASTER

Sambhavna Trust Clinic,

Bhopal, November 29, 2006

The Sambhavna Trust Clinic that provides free
medical care to the people poisoned by Union
Carbide in Bhopal will be holding a 4-day
exhibition at the Swaraj Bhavan on the occasion
of the 22^nd anniversary of the worst industrial
disaster in the world.

Viscera-specimens-450.jpg

The exhibition will be inaugurated by Dr D K
Satpathy, Director, Medico Legal Institute at 5
PM tomorrow and will continue till December 3^rd
the day of the anniversary. Specially aimed at
children and those born after the disaster the
exhibition presents photographs, documents and
other artifacts in simple language. An on the
spot painting competition will be held for school
students in three categories on all days.

Dr Satpathy who carried out the largest number of
autopsies following the disaster on December 3,
1984 will be speaking on the contributions of
forensic science in apprehending those
responsible for the disaster. Journalist Mr 
Rajkumar Keshwani who had forewarned about and
campaigned against the hazards of the Union
Carbide factory will be speaking at the
exhibition venue on December 2. Former operator
of MIC plant in the factory and author of a book
on the technical causes of the disaster Mr T R
Chouhan will answer questions on the evening of
December 1.

The Sambhavna Trust Clinic completed 10 years of
its work this year. Nearly 18000 (17, 980) people
are registered for long term care at the clinic
through Allopathic, Ayurveda, Panchakarma and
Yoga systems of healing. This year till November
6608 people poisoned by Union Carbide [4524
female, 2084 male] visited the clinic.

The members of the Sambhavna Trust Clinic said
that this year they have started several new
works in the face of adversity and loss due to
the floods in the city in mid August. Facilities
for eye care, large scale production of herbal
medicines, microbiological tests in the pathology
laboratory have been added to the clinic this
year despite heavy financial losses due to damage
to the walls and the herbal garden in the clinic.
In addition several medicinal plant gardens were
created in the affected communities.

The members stated that proper medical care that
includes healing through Ayurvedic, Unani and
Yoga systems of medicine, Clinics in every
affected community, Gainful employment, Pensions,
Safe drinking water, Clean up of contaminated
soil and ground water, Medical research, Health
education and Health surveillance are critically
needed for the improvement of health of the
people poisoned by Union Carbide.

Satinath Sarangi

Amita Gupta

Masarrat Jehan

Ritesh Kumar Pal

Central Chronicle

December 3, 2006

22 YEARS OF TEARFUL REMEMBRANCE

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Dec 2: ’’We do not have any sensational
news for you, we have the sorrow and suffering of
the Gas Tragedy victims and the documents linked
with a long battle for justice. But is anyone
still interested about those affected by the
world’s worst industrial disaster?’’ When social
activist Abdul Jabbar raises this poignant
question his eyes reveal the fatigue and sadness
of the past 22 years during which he has been
involved with the case.

Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan Convenor
Jabbar needs to wipe his clouded eyes repeatedly
as he was also affected by the methyl isocyanate
that leaked from the Union Carbide India Ltd
(UCIL) factory here on the intervening night of
December 2-3, 1984, immediately slew thousands
and affected lakhs.

Responding to a query, he says, ’’I am tired and
also vexed but not disappointed. I will continue
championing the cause of the victims’ rights.
Over the past 22 years, 34,000 persons died as a
consequence of the inhalation exposure. One-lakh
persons were either temporarily or permanently
handicapped. To add insult to injury, those
responsible are yet to be brought to book.’’

Meanwhile, Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and
Rehabilitation Minister Babulal Gaur, also a
former chief minister, told that the state
government is extending all possible assistance
and treatment to the victims. ’’I was myself a
witness to the tragedy and therefore the
rehabilitation of those affected is my foremost
priority. Time and again we have requested the
Centre for aid and Union Human Resource
Development Minister Arjun Singh’s stance has
been co-operative. The Centre should either help
in securing more compensation from Union Carbide
or sanction financial assistance itself,’’ he
feels.

Pointing out that Singh agreed in principle on
the demand for doling out aid to the remaining 20
wards of this city, the minister adds that the
Centre has been urged for help in constructing an
international-level memorial in front of the
now-closed UCIL unit and safe removal of toxic
substances in the soil of the premises.

’’Treatment of victims is done free of cost at
the Bhopal Memorial super-speciality hospital at
Karond and related medical institutions. No
complaint has been made to me in that regard,’’
Gaur says while denying any proposal to wind up
his department. On December 1, 1987, the Central
Bureau of Investigation filed a charge sheet in
the district court against a total of 12 accused
including the then Union Carbide Corporation
chairman Warren Anderson, the then UCIL chairman
Keshav Mahindra, managing director Vijay Gokhale
and Union Carbide Eastern, Hong Kong. The bench
declared Anderson as an absconder.

Accused RB Roychoudhry, the then assistant works
manager, is deceased. The case is being argued in
the chief judicial magistrate’s court for about
two decades and in February Mahindra and eight
others together appeared before the bench for the
first time.

’’Hearings ought to take place every day. When
the fake passports case, in which (underworld don
Abu Salem’s starlet girlfriend) Monica Bedi is
one of the accused, can be heard regularly why
not the criminal case relating to the world’s
worst industrial disaster?’’ feels Jabbar.

Mayor Sunil Sood paid homage to the victims of
dreaded ’Gas Tragedy’ on Saturday. Bihar
Sanskritik Parishhad, BHEL has decided to
organise a two minutes silence followed by homage
to the gas victims on December 3 at Saraswati
Aradhana Kendra, Berkhera. WCR Indian Scouts and
Guides G.No.1 is going to offer a ’Flowery
Wreath’, followed by two minute silence and
homage to the gas victims at Shaheed Smarak on
December 3 at 8:30am. The 22^nd anniversary of Gas
Tragedy would be observed as ’Demand Day’ by
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila & Purush Sangharsh
Morcha. Member of the Morcha would hang the
effigy of Warren Anderson and would also present
a memorandum to the governor, chief minister and
gas relief minister. Gandhiwadi Jankalyan Samiti
under the leadership of Kallu Pehlwan is going to
burn the effigy of Warren Anderson at Itwara
Square on December 3 at 11:00am. After paying
homage to the gas victims, food would also be
provided to the poor. Shiv Sena offered homage to
the gas victims at Bhawani Chowk premises on
Saturday. The party workers also burnt the effigy
of Warren Anderson. Sena demanded that 22 years
have passed and union government has not
fulfilled its promises.