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Vital eye tests

A team of eye care specialists travelled to Bhopal to assist local medical staff. It was was reported that up to 100,000 people had been blinded by the leak. 

© Sightsavers

A victim of the disaster has her eyes tested
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Bhopal – 25 Years on

December 3 saw the 25th Anniversary of the Bhopal disaster in northern India. At around midnight on that fateful day clouds of the toxic gas methyl isocyanate were released from the US Company Union Carbide’s chemical plant. In the first few days after the leak at least 8,000 people died and it was widely reported that over 100,000 people had been blinded.

For the first time in our history Sightsavers, or the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind as we were known then, decided to mount an emergency relief operation. The ‘Bhopal Blind Appeal’ was launched on BBC Breakfast Time and a team of experienced eye care specialists travelled to Bhopal to assist the local doctors and medical staff.

Thanks to the fast response of our supporters we were able to fund the construction of a permanent eye hospital

Thankfully much of the blindness caused by the leak was only temporary. However it was clear that long term monitoring and treatment would be necessary for the vast numbers of people whose sight had been permanently damaged. Thanks to the fast response of our supporters we were able to fund the construction of a permanent eye hospital in the city.

Shockingly the site has never been properly cleaned up and, as the Bhopal Medical Appeal state “more than 120,000 people still suffer from ailments caused by the accident and the subsequent pollution at the plant site”, including blindness, birth defects and breathing disorders. The Guardian recently reported that 8,000 tonnes of carcinogenic chemicals continue to leach out of the now abandoned plant, contaminating the local water supplies.

Take Action

Help end 25 years of injustice for the people of Bhopal by visiting Amnesty International’s appeal page.

To learn more about the Bhopal disaster please visit the Bhopal Medical Appeal.

More images
An eye specialist conducts an eye test following the disaster (new window) The Union Carbide chemical plant responsible for the leak (new window) Bhopal Eye Hospital (new window) A victim of the disaster has her eyes tested (new window)
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Please note that as we are not registered medical practitioners and do not directly deliver eye care in the countries in which we work, but work with local partners, we are not able to respond to any questions regarding medical issues. Please contact your health service provider for medical advice.


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