Tragic! Seven People Have Died Of COVID-19 In Bhopal, All Were 1984 Gas Tragedy Survivors

The Bhopal gas tragedy was one of the worst industrial disasters in history. The Methyl isocyanate leak from Union Carbide factory killed thousands and left many more with serious health conditions including respiratory illnesses and cancer.

BCCL

Now more than three decades after their lives were destroyed by the gas tragedy the survivors are facing another serious threat - COVID-19.

The viral infection is particularly a serious threat for people with pre-existing health conditions and those who are immunocompromised.

AFP

This is now showing its ugly side in Bhopal where seven people have died of COVID-19. And all of them are gas tragedy victims. A 70-year-old gas mishap survivor died on April 17 while another 60-year-old tragedy victim died on April 14, Rachna Dhingra, of the NGO Bhopal Group for Information and Action which is working for the gas mishap victims, told PTI.

Samples of both the victims came out positive for coronavirus after their death, she said. Earlier this month, five victims of the gas leak had died due to the coronavirus disease.

The Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Center (BMHRC), a dedicated facility for the treatment of gas mishap survivors, was recently turned into a medical facility for coronavirus patients.

BCCL

However, after the outrage over the five deaths, the government against classified BMHRC as a facility for the gas tragedy victims.

The first coronavirus victim from Bhopal, a 55-year- old man, died at a city hospital on April 5. Another 80-year-old gas tragedy victim, who was a retired employee of the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), died on April 8 and his sample came out positive for coronavirus on April 11. Besides, a 40-year-old gas tragedy victim, who was suffering from oral cancer for more than a year, died on April 12 and his sample test report later came out positive for coronavirus. Another 52-year-old gas mishap survivor, who suffered from a permanent injury, had history of tuberculosis. He recently tested positive for coronavirus and died on his way to the COVID-19 ward at Hamidia hospital. Also, a 75-year-old senior journalist, who survived the gas tragedy, died on April 11 and his sample test report came out positive for coronavirus on April 14.

BCCL

On March 21, some organisations working for the welfare of gas tragedy survivors wrote to the state and central authorities concerned, saying an overwhelming number of gas victims suffer from respiratory, cardiovascular, kidney problems and cancer as a result of exposure to the toxic gas that leaked at the Union Carbide factory here in 1984.

They claimed that these survivors were at least five times more vulnerable to COVID-19 than other people and therefore, need special care.