Bhopal gas tragedy victims to get Hiroshima–Nagasaki-style memorial worth over Rs 1,200 crore after over 40 years

Almost 42 years after the Bhopal gas tragedy, the Madhya Pradesh government will build a memorial on the site of the Union Carbide factory to honour those killed and maimed by the highly toxic gas methyl isocyanate (MIC) on the intervening night of December 2 and 3 in 1984. The state government aims to build the memorial on the lines of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, serving as a somber reminder of the tragedy, reports TOI's Ankur Sirothia. The cost of developing the Bhopal gas tragedy site was expected to be over Rs 1200 cr. The memorials in Japan served as reminders of the 1945 atomic bombings.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that the memorial will be built after taking into confidence all sections of society and under the guidance of the High Court. In 1984, on December 3 1984, more than 40 tons of methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a pesticide plant in Bhopal. It killed thousands and left lakhs fighting debilitating illnesses for life and is generally considered the worst industrial disaster in the world.

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Bhopal gas tragedy memorial being planned

The proposed gas memorial at the abandoned Union Carbide factory site in Bhopal was planned to recreate the experience of the Bhopal Gas disaster, reminding visitors of its horrific past, the lasting impact and trauma on residents. The memorial also aims to showcase to the world how Bhopal has moved forward as a modern city, shedding the tag of being the site of the world’s worst industrial catastrophe.

"The chemical waste lay there for nearly 40 years. Under the guidance of High Court, our government successfully disposed of the chemical waste without any environmental damage or human loss," Mohan Yadav said.

"By taking all sections of society and affected parties into confidence, and under guidance of the High Court, we will now proceed to build a memorial for those who died in the Bhopal gas tragedy on this now-cleaned campus. The state government stands with all gas victims at every step and will spare no effort for their welfare," the CM said.

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During his visit, Yadav also discussed with officials of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department regarding the construction of the memorial.

After the disposal of the waste linked to the gas leak, the state government is making all necessary arrangements for the proper development of the complex, along with the construction of the Bhopal Metropolitan Area, Yadav added. The development plan for a memorial at the Carbide site gained traction following the disposal of toxic waste from the Bhopal factory premises at the TSDF facility in Pithampur in 2025. After the Chief Minister’s announcement of the memorial on Saturday, the government said it would prepare a master plan for around 90 acres of land for the project.

In addition to the memorial, the proposal includes setting up an institute on industrial disasters, a wall bearing the names of Bhopal gas disaster victims, and a museum housing literature on the world’s largest industrial catastrophe, among other facilities.

"The government will consult all sections of society and affected stakeholders and proceed with the development of the Union Carbide factory campus. Under the guidance of the High Court, a memorial will be built in the now-clean premises in memory of those who lost their lives in the Bhopal gas tragedy," Yadav was quoted as saying.

Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation department director Swatantra Kumar Singh told TOI, “It (Carbide waste disposal) was the first scientifically done industrial waste transportation and disposal in the country following highest international parameters,” he added. Officials said it would ensure that the artefacts and original structures at the factory premises were retained. The govt mulled opening a research institute that would work to avert industrial disasters, officials added.

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Congress left the area unattended

Mohan Yadav pointed out that the disaster took place during the rule of the opposition party (referring to the Congress), adding the then government acted negligently and left the area unattended. "They made no decision to remove the toxic waste from the factory and closed the factory to all after this horrific tragedy. Even during the UPA government's tenure at the Centre, nothing was done to develop this gas-affected area. The scene of deaths that Bhopal witnessed will never fade from our memories," he said.

The state government now has worked to remove this stigma from the capital, for which all affected parties, including the Gas Relief Department, deserve praise, Yadav added. The then government helped Warren Anderson, the Union Carbide CEO at the time, to escape, Yadav said.

Rahul Gandhi must apologise to the nation for this, he added.

"Following court orders, our government disposed of Union Carbide's toxic waste last year. This also serves as a message to the world about how modern scientific methods can be used to dispose of toxic waste without causing environmental or human harm," he said.

(With PTI inputs)