Bhopal, 21 years later... - Kazuhiro Yokozeki Photography

Bhopal, India, 21 years later...

It has been twenty-one years since the night of December 2, 1984, when a Union Carbide factory leaked forty-three tons of methylisocyanate and other hazardous substances into the community of Bhopal, India killing more than 8000 people, during the first week alone.Unfortunately, the ongoing effects of this pollution, concentrated on the poor of the community, have not held the attention of the international community much today. There are still thousands suffering in the aftermath of the tragedy and the areas where the factory still reek of pesticide.

Contaminated ground water in the area around the factory is one of the most serious problems today. The municipal authorities have declared water from over 100 wells unfit for drinking, and numerous studies show that the factory premises and nearby soil are contaminated with hazardous chemicals. Unfortunately, the local slum (called Bustee in north Indian languages) dwellers depend upon the wells. Although the municipal government sometimes sends water tank trucks, its service is irregular and during monsoon season, it is often discontinued entirely due to poor road conditions. Even when the tanks are delivered, many old gas disaster victims aren't able to bear the walk to the supply tanks, much less are they able to bear the burden of carrying the water back to their homes. The municipal authority justifies its failure to address the water poisoning by insisting that the Bustees' dwellers are living in a place where they are not permitted to live, that they are, in fact squatters.

As a result, the dwellers are poorer than they ever were before, and without adequate health care, the community’s children are severely impacted."The tragedy has been damaging three generations," said Leela Bai, 58, one of the 1984's gas disaster victims, who lives in the Blue Moon colony. Between the multinational corporation which depends on India's cheap labor and the Government of India which has shared in their profits, but fails to care for its people, the tragedy perpetuates itself and the poor continue to pay the price for bureaucratic avarice and gross negligence.

November, 2005.

Bhopal, 21 years later... - The remains of the Union Carbide pesticide factory viewed...

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The remains of the Union Carbide pesticide factory viewed from Atal Ayub Nagar's train depot.

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The remains of the Union Carbide pesticide factory viewed from Blue Moon colony.

Bhopal, 21 years later... - Goats graze next to the Carbide plant's supply...

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Goats graze next to the Carbide plant's supply factory and its northern wall. The soil has been contaminated and still contains a strong residual pesticidal smell. The area around the plant was used as a dumping ground for hazardous chemicals.

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The remains of the Carbide plant's storage section.

Bhopal, 21 years later... - A ground water pump with contaminated water in Blue Moon...

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A ground water pump with contaminated water in Blue Moon colony.

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A local resident shows a recycled plastic water container which color has been changed by contaminated water in Blue Moon colony.

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The state government's water supply tank in Atal Ayub Nagar bustee. Its service is often stopped during Monsoon season.

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The Sambhavna Trust Clinic in Bhopal provides free medical care including Ayurveda to the survivors of the Union Carbide disaster.

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Arvind Bai,27, has been mentally handicapped
since the 1984's Union Carbide gas disaster.

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Gaurav,2, suffers from the contaminated water. Her mother, Bhawana,24, especially worries about Gaurav's urinary malfunction and skin rash.

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Bhawana,24,holds her daughter, Gaurav,2, with an elder sister Sunny,4,who also suffers from the contaminated water, standing by.

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Leela Bai,58, mother of Bhawana, still suffers from the aftereffects of the 1984's gas disaster as well as from the contaminated ground water in Blue Moon colony. Her husband passed away in 1993 due to kidney-related disease caused by the 1984's gas. She and other community residences are trying to let the state government supply clean water via pipeline. "I don't want to live here, but I have no choice," she said.

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Leela Bai,58, mother of Bhawana, still suffers from the aftereffects of the 1984's gas disaster as well as from the contaminated ground water in Blue Moon colony. Her husband passed away in 1993 due to kidney-related disease caused by the 1984's gas. She and other community residences are trying to let the state government supply clean water via pipeline. She shows 'Justice in Bhopal' protest march flyer. "I don't want to live here, but I have no choice," she said.

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Shaha Zadee,48,suffers from burning eyes and stomach pain due to the contaminated water in Blue Moon colony. Her all six children also suffer from the contaminated water.

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Jai Prakash Nagar is one of the heavily affected slums in 1984. The bustee has been rebuilt little by little since then. Both Hindu and Muslim groups live together very peacefully.

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A vegetable vendor at Jai Prakash Nagar, one of the heavily affected slums in 1984. The bustee has been rebuilt little by little since then. Both Hindu and Muslim groups live together very peacefully.

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Jai Prakash Nagar is one of the heavily affected slums in 1984. The bustee has been rebuilt little by little since then. Both Hindu and Muslim groups live together very peacefully.

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Mosque in Jai Prakash Nagar, one of the heavily affected slums in 1984. The bustee has been rebuilt little by little since then. Both Hindu and Muslim groups live together very peacefully.

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Protest march mural on the remaining wall of the Union Carbide plant in Jai Prakash Nagar.

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So-called Bus-stand area near Jai Prakash Nagar bustee. Most of the slums still don't have access to water, power, and garbage collection service.

Bhopal, India, 21 years later...

November, 2005.