Decades after the tragedy, survivors continue seeking justice while Sambhavna Trust remains their lifeline for medical care.

Eventualities Of The Bhopal Gas Tragedy…

September 2 was the twenty-second anniversary of the establishment of the Sambhavna Trust Clinic in Bhopal. The trust was established to provide direct intervention in the lives of the affected people, which had already been promised to them several times over by the Central and the State government but never followed up on. The establishment of the Trust Clinic was led by the late eminent scientist Dr P. M. Bhargava.

Even today, when the survivors wait for the deliverance of justice, the Disaster largely remains a forgotten in the nationalist history. Furthermore, the whole story of the extent of the Double Poisoning of the people of Bhopal is known to a select few. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy is also called the Double Poisoning, for the MIC incident was just the starting. The committee which investigated into the crimes of the Union Carbide – before being dissolved unceremoniously- found that the factory had buried Poisonous Chemicals deep under the surface of the Earth, close to the groundwater level to go off with the cost of proper disposal, which resulted in the groundwater of the city of Bhopal being contaminated.

The Sambhavna Trust Clinic – The Remedial Measures…

The Sambhavna Trust Clinic was set up in Bhopal when the government, Central or the State, failed to take definitive action. It has for the last twenty- two years provided the affected people with treatment – using modern medicinal practices as well as traditional methods of Ayurveda, Yoga and Panchakarma specifically – for free. The Clinic exists smack in the middle of Quazi Camp, a Muslim- dominated neighbourhood and is its primary beneficiaries.

A surprising fact about the Trust Clinic is that it does not accept Corporate or Government funding and is run on the individual donations of some twenty- five thousand odd people from all over the United Kingdom, who respond to the Bhopal Medical Appeal each year. Another important source of funding for the clinic is through the revenue from the sale of the book, “Five past Midnight in Bhopal” by authors Dominique Lapierre and Javier Moro.

It is time now that the banal discussions that play a large part in our everyday life be put away and the necessary issues are debated upon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and when did it happen?

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy occurred on December 3, 1984, when methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from a Union Carbide pesticide plant, exposing thousands of residents. It remains one of the world’s worst industrial disasters, causing immediate deaths and long-term health complications for survivors.

What is the Sambhavna Trust Clinic and who founded it?

Sambhavna Trust Clinic was established on September 2, 1996, by Dr. P.M. Bhargava to provide medical care to Bhopal gas tragedy survivors. The clinic offers treatment through modern medicine, Ayurveda, Yoga, and Panchakarma, filling the gap left by government inaction.

What is the Double Poisoning mentioned in the Bhopal tragedy?

Double Poisoning refers to the MIC gas leak plus the intentional burial of toxic chemicals near Bhopal’s groundwater by Union Carbide. This contaminated the city’s water supply, causing prolonged health effects beyond the initial gas exposure incident.

How many people were affected by the Bhopal Gas Tragedy?

Thousands of Bhopal residents were exposed to the MIC gas leak, with hundreds dying immediately and tens of thousands experiencing chronic illnesses. Official casualty figures remain disputed, but the disaster displaced entire communities and continues affecting multiple generations.

What services does Sambhavna Trust provide to survivors today?

Sambhavna Trust Clinic provides free medical treatment combining modern medicine with traditional Ayurvedic practices, Yoga, and Panchakarma therapies. It serves as the primary healthcare facility for tragedy survivors seeking relief from gas exposure-related illnesses and environmental contamination effects.