Bhopal gas victims awaiting 'acche din'

Bhopal, Nov 29 Despite a government-change at the Centre, the Bhopal gas tragedy victims continue their struggle to survive and live with the hope that they will witness 'acche din' (better times) one fine day, a victims' rights group has said.

Sadhna Karnik of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Sangharsh Sahyog Samiti told reporters here on Sunday: "On the night of December 2-3 in 1984, leakage of poisonous gas at the Union Carbide company left thousands of people dead. The remaining people are facing a lot of health problems relating to kidneys, eyes, heart and skin."

"There are over 5.25 lakh such victims who have not been compensated at all. The deaths occurring after 1997 are not being viewed as related to the effect of the gas," she said, adding that the victims should be paid Rs.30 lakh as compensation.