The death of a city

No one wants to remember anything that hurt them. We repress painful memories. But the truth is, our pasts will never leave us. As it goes, run, run, run all you want, but the past will haunt you forever.

The isolated plant. Image source: the business-standard

I was 13 when I went to a youth conference held in The Doon School, Dehradun. School students were there to talk about climate change, environmental issues, and the steps their school had been taking to tackle the ever-growing problem of our deteriorating ecosystems.

The representation was massive, and each school's measure to revive water bodies and preserve forests was noteworthy. The hall would usually lose attention after 5 minutes. But there was one presentation that had everyone gripped for 45 minutes.

A few students from one of the most prestigious schools in Bhopal talked about their case. They explained their campus's history and their efforts towards preservation. After that, they elaborated on the collective efforts formulated after the Bhopal gas tragedy.

There was once a company called Union Carbide in India. It had set up its plants in Bhopal, and like most international companies, Union Carbide did not fear the law and felt it wasn't answerable to anyone in the country. In 1969, the UCIL formulated a pesticide using methyl isocyanate. However, by 1976, unions in Bhopal started complaining about the pollution made due to the use of methyl isocyanate. Not only was it contaminating the water bodies, but the people who worked in the plants complained of nausea, nosebleeds, and headaches.

People should have taken note when a worker died due to excess inhalation of the phosgene gas. They should've realized that if something went wrong, the entire city would turn into a gas chamber.

During a routine maintenance check, it was found that one of the tanks was no longer operational. It was a disaster waiting to happen. Yet, UCIL pushed for the utilization of the defunct tank. Since the pressure in the malfunctioning tank increased by 5 times, a lethal chemical reaction happened.

The gas leaked out of the tank, and the workers could feel its effects. After a few minutes, it was decided that they'd make everyone aware of the leak. But in those few minutes, the gas seeped out and it was too late.

Most residents got to know about the leak when they were shaken awake by a foul smell and stingy sensation.

Cattle dropped dead, children complained of itchiness and stinginess, throats burned, and it seemed as though someone had shut off people's senses. Those who could escape found solace only 15 km outside the affected area. Most did not even make it out. When the gas was all in the atmosphere, people coughed up blood, some pregnant women lost their babies, while those who were born had some defects.

The water became unfit for any purpose, the soil was contaminated and everything turned to rubble around them. A baby was dug out of the rubble. That picture showed the gravity of the gas leak and that one company's carelessness cost the people of Bhopal their lives.

Those who survived envy the dead. It's difficult to live with multiple chronic illnesses particularly when one's livelihood is meager. Long-term effects are still prevalent amongst people.

While those school students narrated their accounts during an informal discussion, they also emphasized the value of silence and noise pollution. They created a quiet zone around their campus and in the city. They say it helped the victims cope up and settle back into life. Noise induces stress and anxiety. Tranquility helps in recovery.

Compensation was given to the victims of the gas leak. But monetary help will never replace the congenital damages caused by the gas leak. While the parts of Bhopal may still be healing, the memory will never fade away.

The true face of the tragedy. image source: the Deccan Herald