Bhopal Gas Tragedy: State Declares Special Holiday on 41st Anniversary; Candle Marches and Prayers Held in Tribute

Bhopal: Marking the 41st anniversary of one of the world’s worst industrial disasters, the Madhya Pradesh government declared a special holiday on December 3, leading to the closure of all schools and colleges across the state. On Tuesday evening, candle marches and torch processions were held in various parts of the city to pay tribute to the thousands who lost their lives in the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy. On Wednesday morning, an interfaith prayer service will be held at Barkatullah Bhavan, where Gas Relief Minister Dr. Kunwar Vijay Shah and several religious leaders will offer prayers for the victims.

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy occurred on the night of December 2–3, 1984, when a storage tank at the Union Carbide pesticide plant leaked methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas. The poisonous cloud drifted quickly over nearby densely populated settlements, causing thousands of people to die in their sleep, while many others struggled for breath amid the chaos. The streets around the factory were soon lined with bodies, marking the beginning of a tragedy that continues to affect generations.

To commemorate the victims, the Sambhavna Trust Clinic organised a march from Chhola Ganesh Mandir to the Gas Mata Temple, offering floral tributes to those who died. The Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan also took out a torch-and-candle procession from Shahjahan Park. The organisation’s convener, Shauver Khan, said that although four decades have passed, survivors continue to suffer the long-lasting consequences of the disaster. He pointed out that toxic waste lying in and around the factory site has contaminated drinking water within a five-kilometre radius, resulting in thousands of people battling chronic illnesses. He urged the government to take the health crisis more seriously and demanded five times higher compensation for survivors to enable them to rebuild their lives with dignity.

Even after 41 years, the memories remain painfully vivid for many. Survivors recall watching family members—husbands, children, and even entire generations—collapse before their eyes. Thick toxic fog had made visibility nearly impossible, and the screams of panic-stricken residents overpowered every other sound. Decades later, contaminated groundwater and persistent health complications continue to inflict suffering on the affected communities.