A recent study published in the British Medical Journal has confirmed the long-standing claims of five organisations representing survivors of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy. The tragedy, which occurred in Bhopal, India, saw a deadly gas leak from a Union Carbide chemical plant in the middle of the night that took the lives of over 3,000 people and caused long-term health issues for tens of thousands more. Survivors-victim organisations have now been vindicated in their claim that babies in wombs during the disaster were more prone to developing cancer as they grow older.
Researchers at the University of California-San Diego found in their study that children who were in their mother’s womb during the Bhopal Gas Tragedy are likely to have eight times higher rates of cancer and disability. This information has given further weight to the claims of those who experienced the tragedy first-hand and those who have been fighting for justice for decades.
The Bhopal Group for Information & Action commented on the study, saying A scientific study has shown that our claims about the link between babies in wombs during the disaster and a higher risk of cancer as adults have been supported. We hope this will help to bring further attention to the long-term effects of the disaster and the urgent need for justice for the survivors.
The disaster is widely acknowledged as the world’s worst industrial disaster, and its lingering effects on survivors and their children continue to this day. This latest research adds even more weight to calls for meaningful action to be taken to alleviate the ongoing suffering of those affected by the tragedy.
The study also serves as a reminder of the importance of scientific research in understanding and addressing disasters. It is hoped that this latest research will prompt further investigation into the long-term health impacts of such incidents and help to inform policies and initiatives aimed at mitigating their impact.
