39 Years On: Ex-Railwaymen Share Bhopal Gas Tragedy's Lingering Horrors

Decades after the Bhopal gas tragedy, survivors like Mahendrajeet Singh and Rambali Prasad Verma still bear the emotional scars. Recounting the fateful night of December 2, 1984, they vividly recall fleeing the toxic gas leak from the Union Carbide factory. The tragedy claimed lives, leaving survivors haunted by respiratory issues and haunting memories.

Image Source -www.iflscience.com

The echoes of the Bhopal gas tragedy persist, haunting survivors even after 39 years since the calamitous incident unfolded on December 2, 1984. Recounting the chilling night, former railway employees like Mahendrajeet Singh, a retired chief reservation superintendent, vividly recall the horrors they witnessed. Singh, also the president of All India Retired Railwaymen Federation Western Zone, vividly describes the night when their sleep was disrupted by shrieks and cries emanating from the nearby railway colony. The toxic gas leak from the Union Carbide factory startled them awake, triggering panic and chaos.

Singh's family hastily fled their home, seeking refuge from the lethal fumes on a scooter and on foot. They spent the harrowing night at a hotel, four kilometers away, far enough to evade the deadly cloud. However, tragedy struck later when Singh lost his mother and younger brother due to exposure to the toxic gas. The aftermath was starkly visible as trees shed their leaves, signaling the devastation wrought by the poisonous gas.

Also Read: India's Ruturaj Gaikwad Aims To Surpass Virat Kohli's T20I Record

Amidst rumors of further gas releases, panic enveloped the survivors. Singh, like many others, sought refuge in Hoshangabad district, fearing the looming threat. Additionally, the accounts of Rambali Prasad Verma, a retired assistant station master, add to the haunting narrative. Verma narrowly escaped the disaster as his shift ended before the gas leak. Fleeing with his family to escape the perilous fumes, they found temporary sanctuary in an Army vehicle.

However, the trauma endured manifests in respiratory ailments and haunting memories for Verma and others. The chilling recollections of that fateful night still evoke shivers, a testament to the enduring trauma etched into the survivors' lives.