Bhopal gas tragedy victims object to Dow Chemicals sponsoring Live Earth event

New Delhi, Apr 19 (ANI): Victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy staged a protest here on Sunday against Dow Chemicals Company sponsoring a Live Earth environmental series.

The US-based company says it cannot held accountable for the disaster because Union Carbide, now its subsidiary, has already paid the compensation asked of it by the Indian Government.

Many insist that Dow Chemicals should still be held responsible for completing the clean-up operations.

Social activist Satinath Sarangi has said that it is ironic that the company is sponsoring the Live Earth series, even as thousands continue to suffer from toxic contamination in Bhopal more than 25 years later.

"Today, all over the world, Live Earth is organizing a run for water. This event, which is supposed to address the global water crisis, ironically is being sponsored by Dow Chemicals, which is (among) the greatest polluters on earth and one of the reasons why there is a water crisis today. To start with, Dow Chemical is responsible for the poison in the ground water and soil in Bhopal that is causing cancer and birth defect and damage to the liver, kidneys and brain in Bhopal," he said.

In the early hours of December 3, 1984, around 40 metric tonnes of toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked into the atmosphere and was carried by wind to surrounding slums.

The government says around 3,500 died in the disaster.

Rights activists, however, claim that 25,000 people have died so far. (ANI)