Tributes paid to Bhopal gas tragedy victims

Bhopal, Dec 3 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today paid tributes to the victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy on the occasion of its 23rd anniversary at an all religion prayer here.

''It must be ensured that no such incidents were repeated like Bhopal gas tragedy,'' Mr Chouhan said while addressing the official function at the Central Library here to pay homage to the victims.

''We should learn from the tragedy that progress at the cost of human life was unwelcome,'' he said, adding the State government was endeavouring to ensure proper medical treatment to the affected and distribution of safe drinking water.

Industry Minister Babulal Gaur, Health Minister Ajay Vishnoi and Mayor Sunil Sood were also present among others at the accasion.

Thousands of people died and several lakh were maimed in the world's worst industrial disaster as nearly 40 tonnes of toxic methy isocyanate leaked from Union Carbide Corporation's pesticide plant here on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984.

UNI