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Bhopal

  • Writer: Ohio Valley Allies
    Ohio Valley Allies
  • Sep 11
  • 6 min read




Bhopal: The Corporate Crime That Never Ended


In this episode of Exposure, Jill and Stuart reflect on one of the deadliest chemical disasters in history: the 1984 Bhopal gas leak in India. Nearly 40 years later, survivors continue to live with its consequences, not just in their bodies but in their communities, their water, and their ongoing struggle for justice.

The conversation is guided by testimonies from three women who were children on that night. Their stories cut through corporate spin and political excuses, exposing Bhopal not as an “industrial accident,” but as a corporate crime whose perpetrators walked free.


The Night of the Gas Leak

On December 2, 1984, methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from Union Carbide’s pesticide plant in Bhopal. Safety systems had been shut down or left in disrepair—refrigeration, scrubbers, and the flare tower were all inoperable. There was no functioning alarm system to warn the surrounding community.

The result was catastrophic. Within hours, 3,000 people were dead. Over the next few days, the toll climbed to 8,000–10,000. In the decades since, estimates of total deaths range from 15,000 to 25,000, with more than half a million people exposed. Survivors still describe burning eyes, seared lungs, spontaneous miscarriages, and entire families collapsing in the streets.

Union Carbide never provided the toxicology data that could have helped doctors respond effectively. Instead, the company insisted the gas was harmless, “like tear gas.” As one survivor recalled, even simple protective advice—such as covering with wet blankets—could have saved thousands, yet no warnings ever came.


A Disaster That Never Ended

Bhopal is not just history—it is a living disaster. Toxic waste left on site has leached into the groundwater of more than 200,000 people. Breast milk and drinking water in surrounding neighborhoods still show traces of persistent organic pollutants. Generations later, children are still being born with birth defects.

And while survivors received one-time compensation—around $500 per person—it was a pittance against the scale of suffering. Access to adequate healthcare came only after decades of organizing, culminating in a 2012 ruling that recognized lifelong treatment for survivors as a constitutional right.


Warren Anderson and the Corporate Escape

Union Carbide’s CEO, Warren Anderson, was arrested when he traveled to India days after the disaster. He posted bail, left the country, and never returned. Declared a fugitive by Indian courts, he lived the rest of his life in comfort in a wealthy New York suburb, never apologizing, never held accountable. He was even quoted—via the Wall Street Journal, reported in The New Yorker—as calling the people of Bhopal “hypochondriacs.”

In 2001, Union Carbide was bought by Dow Chemical, which denied any liability, claiming it had only purchased “the assets, not the liabilities.” This legal maneuvering left survivors chasing justice through courts, governments, and international institutions—all while continuing to bury their dead.


East Palestine: The Same Playbook

The episode also draws parallels between Bhopal and the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Residents there were told to trust regulators after a “vent-and-burn” of toxic chemicals—again a corporate decision made in consultation with government officials.

Just like Bhopal, compensation has been slow, health complaints have been dismissed, and corporations have downplayed long-term impacts. Survivors in India warned that companies and regulators follow the same “playbook”: deny harm, invoke trade secrets, minimize liability, and leave communities to fight for decades.


Regulatory Capture and the Cost of Profit

At the heart of both stories is a deeper truth: governments often serve as extensions of corporate power rather than protectors of public health. Agencies that should be safeguarding communities instead suppress data, restrict independent monitoring, and defend industry interests.

This dynamic—known as regulatory capture—ensures that disasters like Bhopal and East Palestine aren’t anomalies, but symptoms of a system designed to put profit above human life.


A Call for Global Accountability

Bhopal should have been the moment the world woke up. Instead, it became a template for how corporations escape accountability. Survivors have reframed it not as an accident, but as a corporate crime. And they continue to fight—not just for their community, but for all communities living in the shadow of petrochemical and extractive industries.

As Jill and Stuart conclude, the lessons of Bhopal reach far beyond India. They reveal what happens when corporations are allowed to cut corners, governments look away, and human life is treated as expendable. And they remind us that ordinary people—through persistence, solidarity, and truth-telling—are the only force powerful enough to confront that system.


Clarification Notes

To ensure accuracy, we’ve added clarifications (from the video) where survivor testimony and commentary intersect with disputed or technical details:

  • 00:01:28 — MIC is an intermediate chemical, but the Bhopal plant was part of the petrochemical industry chain.

  • 00:02:49 — Survivors received ~$500 in compensation, widely criticized as inadequate.

  • 00:06:10 — No effective warning system or emergency plan existed; confirmed by Amnesty, ICJB, and ICMR.

  • 00:21:33–00:22:20 — Warren Anderson was not in India during the disaster; he flew in later, was arrested, bailed, and never returned.

  • 00:22:20–00:22:52 — Anderson’s “hypochondriacs” remark comes from The New Yorker (1986), citing Wall Street Journal.

  • 00:58:30 — Safer phrasing: “contributed to the deaths of 15,000–25,000 people,” per ICMR and Amnesty International.


Citations and Resources:


The Bhopal Disaster and its Aftermath: A Review : Edward Broughton, Environmental Health (2005)

India’s top court rejects plea for more compensation over 1984 Bhopal gas disaster : Reuters (2023)

Despite evidence that Union Carbide directly oversaw construction of its notorious plant in Bhopal, India, U.S. court denies justice to victims of pollution : EarthRights International (2023)

Bhopal: 40 Years of Injustice : Amnesty International (2024)

Ten Lessons from Bhopal : Institution of Chemical Engineers, Loss Prevention Bulletin 240 (2014)

Contamination of Soil and Water inside and outside the UCIL Factory, Bhopal : Centre for Science and Environment (2009)

Pregnancy outcome in women exposed to toxic gas at Bhopal : Indian Pediatrics / National Library of Medicine (1990)

Methyl Isocyanate — Health Hazard Summary : Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California EPA (2010)

Letter from Bhopal : William McKibben, The New Yorker (1986)

The Bhopal Chemical Gas Disaster : Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective (Ohio State University / Miami University) (2019)

Norfolk Southern Railway Derailment — East Palestine, OH (Railroad Investigation Report RIR-24/05) : National Transportation Safety Board (2024)

Decision to vent and burn unnecessary, National Transportation Safety Board says : Chemical & Engineering News (American Chemical Society) (2024)

Federal Railroad Administration Safety Advisory 2024-02 : U.S. Department of Transportation, FRA (2024)



Disclaimer:

This episode of Exposure is based on first-hand accounts from survivors of the 1984 Bhopal disaster, along with our own research into an event that occurred nearly 40 years ago in another country. While we have made every effort to verify the claims discussed and to ground the conversation in reliable sources, there are inherent limitations in doing so.

The Bhopal tragedy has generated an enormous volume of reporting, analysis, and commentary over the decades. Many accounts conflict, details vary across sources, and the passage of time adds further complexity. Because of this, some statements in this episode reflect survivor testimony or interpretations of events that cannot always be independently or definitively confirmed.

The opinions expressed should be understood in this context. Our intent is not to offer the final word on Bhopal, but to amplify survivor voices, highlight well-documented facts, and examine the broader patterns of industrial harm and accountability that remain relevant today.


      Exposure is an editorial and investigative journalism platform produced by Ohio Valley Allies. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the organization or its affiliates.


      Our mission is to investigate and document the impacts of extractive industries—including oil, gas, petrochemicals, and plastics—through in-depth interviews, research, and storytelling. We aim to expose the truth behind these industries’ operations and consequences using good-faith inquiry, verified sources, and the protections afforded to journalists under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.


      The content presented in this podcast is intended for informational, educational, and documentary purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice, a call to action, or an endorsement of any specific viewpoint, protest, or organization.


      We do not knowingly publish false or defamatory statements. All claims are based on publicly available information, firsthand accounts, expert interviews, or journalistic analysis. Where allegations or critical claims are made, we strive to provide context and sourcing.


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