By Shuriah Niazi
BHOPAL, India
The night of Dec. 2 1984 permanently marked the lives of the residents of the Indian city of Bhopal. Gas leaked from the Union Carbide-owned pesticide plant and killed 3,500 instantly, thousands more in the following months, and leaving a residual effect that affects children born 30 years later.
With three decades having passed since the tragedy, local residents shared their memories with Anadolu Agency.
-- Muliya Bai, 80-years old
"Please don’t ask me about this tragedy. I know nothing is going to change. I have lost so much, who cares about me? I suffer every day. I even beg for survival.
"What will happen if you publish my story in a newspaper? Will someone come to help? Will it change my life?
"I know there are some good people still in this city. They are the one who help and that is why I am alive. I lost my son and a daughter and later on even my husband left this world. Many times I thought about killing myself, but what will happen? People like me would still suffer in this city."
-- Gokul Das, 75-years old
"It was the night I would like to forget. When the gas leaked, everyone was running on the road. No one was knowing what had happened. I could see people falling unconscious on the road. I also left my house along with my family members but later on realized that I am running only with my younger son.
"I could see many dead bodies on the streets. I lost my wife, daughter and elder son in the tragedy. I also inhaled the toxic gas but I was lucky and I survived. Almost all of my family members lost their lives except my younger son. However, life became a burden after that night. I had seen so many of my close ones dying in front of me. After almost 11 years even my younger son died and I was left alone.
"I am still facing the most difficult time of my life with no money, as I have not received pension for the last four months. I hope that the situation for me should improve at least at this age. I know I am not alone in this struggle, there are many people like me in this city, who have lost everything."
-- Kamli Bai, 70-years old
"I was living very close to that factory. I don’t know how I survived that toxic gas. I lost my daughter in the tragedy. She was eleven years old at that time.
"I still remember her she was very beautiful. Had she been alive, she should have many children by now. But you cannot change your destiny. Every year this day reminds me about her. How can I forget her? That night has changed my life for ever. I don’t want to discuss any more about her.
"I still suffer from various diseases and no one is here to help me. In the last few months I have not received any pension from the government. I don’t know how I will survive if they don’t give us pension. I am hopeful that those responsible for our condition will be punished. God will punish them. I don’t know whether I will be alive to see that."
-- Hajra Bi, 57-years
"We were living at JP Nagar, which was barely few meters away from the Union Carbide plant. Me and my child inhaled toxic gas that night.
My granddaughter was born disabled, that is something which really disturbed me. I always feel that the government has not done enough for gas affected people. Those who were responsible for this tragedy have yet to get punishment.
I don’t think they will ever be held responsible for this tragedy. You can just imagine about this country, where people go scot-free, even after killing thousands of people. "
