Commemorating 40 Years of Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Vishwas Sarang Leads in Paying Candlelight Tributes at BMHRC

On Monday, 2 December 2024, a solemn candlelight tribute was held in Bhopal to honor the victims of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, which occurred 40 years ago. The event was attended by Madhya Pradesh’s Minister for Sports, Youth, and Cooperative Affairs Vishwas Sarang, Mayor Malti Rai, and BMHRC Director-in-Charge Dr. Manisha Srivastava.

Hospital staff and students also gathered, their eyes moist with remembrance, as they observed a two-minute silence to pay homage to those who lost their lives in the disaster.

On Tuesday, 3 December, the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Center (BMHRC) will celebrate its 25th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the Indian Postal Department will release a special commemorative cover.

A Sarvadharma Sabha (all-religion meeting) will also be held near the Shraddhanjali and Asha memorial at 8:30 a.m. Religious leaders from various faiths will recite prayers, and elderly survivors of the tragedy, particularly those above 85 years, will be honored for their resilience.

Following the candlelight ceremony on Monday, Minister Sarang and Mayor Rai distributed health kits to patients admitted to BMHRC. Sarang reflected on the tragedy, emphasizing the importance of human life over industrial development. He recounted how his own family was caught in the disaster, recalling the fear and displacement they endured. He reiterated that the tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of unchecked industrialization.

To further support survivors, health camps will be organized at all BMHRC health centers with assistance from the Madhya Pradesh Health Department. These camps will provide free health checkups, screenings for non-communicable diseases, and medicine distribution.

Additionally, the camps will facilitate the creation of Abha and Ayushman IDs for beneficiaries. Organizations such as Rotary Club and Mahavir International have donated blankets for underprivileged patients, which will be distributed in hospital wards.

As part of the 40th-anniversary events, the Indian Postal Department will unveil a special cover recognizing BMHRC’s contributions over the past 25 years. Chief Postmaster General of MP Circle Vineet Mathur, Head of Postal Services Pawan Kumar Dalmia, and Dr. Manisha Srivastava will be present at the unveiling ceremony.

Since its inception in 2000, BMHRC has recorded over 1.06 crore patient visits, with 98% of these visits involving gas tragedy survivors or their dependents. Approximately 64 lakh visits have been to BMHRC’s health centers, with 3.92 lakh registered gas victims and an additional 61,725 dependent patients seeking care.

This anniversary serves as a powerful reminder of the tragedy’s enduring impact, while also showcasing the ongoing efforts to provide care and honor the memory of those affected.