Gas Tragedy: Respiratory ills ravage victims

Bhopal, Oct 15 (UNI) Even after more than two decades of the world's worst industrial disaster -- the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy -- several of those affected continue to suffer respiratory ailments.

''Joint pain takes second spot,'' the Sambhavna Trust Clinic's Dr M S Deshpande told journalists here today. The organisation has been providing treatment in gas tragedy-affected settlements for a decade.

Most people in the settlments suffer from asthma, cough, chest pain and burning sensation. The ailments are found in equal proportion in men and women though a higher number of the latter are registered for treatment. There is a high incidence of cancer and leucorrea (white discharge) in the women.

''Our research has unearthed the fact that the victims are not particularly benefitting from allopathic medicine. That is why we are using Ayurveda and Yoga to good effect. Sixty varieties of medicine are being produced from a single-acre herbal garden,'' the physician added.

Claiming that the clinic had treated more than 17,000 persons thus far, Dr Deshpande said that a seminar will take place here on the clinic's tenth anniversary -- October 17. Dr Sunita Narayan, from Delhi's Centre for Science and Environment, will make a presentation.

UNI AG-AC 1706