New Delhi(IANS): Expressing solidarity with the survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, French author and activist Dominique Lapierre has said the children growing up in the affected area are drinking “poisoned water”. After visiting the survivors who were protesting near Jantar Mantar here Sunday evening, Lapierre has requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to listen to their problems.

“I have myself drunk a glass of the poisoned water, and I suffered an immediate skin rash and throat irritation. This is what the Bhopal children are today condemned to drink,” he said in a statement Monday.

Lapierre, who has co-authored “Five Minutes Past Midnight in Bhopal”, has donated the royalty from the book to a charity clinic that is providing health care to the survivors and their children.

On the night of Dec 3, 1984, a Union Carbide subsidiary pesticide plant in Bhopal accidentally released 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas, killing approximately 3,800 people.

The incident, known as one of the world’s worst industrial disasters, left hundreds of thousands suffering from various diseases after chronic exposure. Contaminated groundwater around the plant area still continues to infect people with various ailments ranging from skin problems to birth defects.

“I have given five years of my life to tell the story of the Bhopal disaster and meet its victims. This is a very precious cause close to my heart. I am sure that in his generosity, Dr. (Manmohan) Singh will accept to receive those heroic people of Bhopal fighting for their right to live with dignity,” Lapierre said.

Nearly 50 survivors, their children, and activists working for them have been protesting here for the past 39 days.

New Delhi(IANS): Expressing solidarity with the survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, French author and activist Dominique Lapierre has said the children growing up in the affected area are drinking “poisoned water”. After visiting the survivors who were protesting near Jantar Mantar here Sunday evening, Lapierre has requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to listen to their problems.

“I have myself drunk a glass of the poisoned water, and I suffered an immediate skin rash and throat irritation. This is what the Bhopal children are today condemned to drink,” he said in a statement Monday.

Lapierre, who has co-authored “Five Minutes Past Midnight in Bhopal”, has donated the royalty from the book to a charity clinic that is providing health care to the survivors and their children.

On the night of Dec 3, 1984, a Union Carbide subsidiary pesticide plant in Bhopal accidentally released 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas, killing approximately 3,800 people.

The incident, known as one of the world’s worst industrial disasters, left hundreds of thousands suffering from various diseases after chronic exposure. Contaminated groundwater around the plant area still continues to infect people with various ailments ranging from skin problems to birth defects.

“I have given five years of my life to tell the story of the Bhopal disaster and meet its victims. This is a very precious cause close to my heart. I am sure that in his generosity, Dr. (Manmohan) Singh will accept to receive those heroic people of Bhopal fighting for their right to live with dignity,” Lapierre said.

Nearly 50 survivors, their children, and activists working for them have been protesting here for the past 39 days.

THE OTHER INDIA

The Bhopal gas tragedy remains a live issue 23 years after toxic gases leaked out of a Union Carbide plant in December 1984. Recent developments indicate a desire on the part of the government to put an end to it. A series of reports looks at these developments and the continuing presence of 9,000 tonnes of toxic waste on the premises of the plant.

People living around the Union Carbide plant site here have two options when it comes to drinking water. Either it is the contaminated groundwater, which continues to be affected by toxic wastes dumped in the plant premises, or the municipal water supplied from the nearby Raslakhedi village, known for a huge sewer. The water from both sources has been officially declared unfit for drinking.

Nasiruddin, a resident of Bluemoon Colony in the city, rues his decision of migrating from the nearby Raisen district to Bhopal 28 years ago to work as a labourer. He and his family members are among the 25,000 families in the area suffering from various gastro-ailments. The doctors blame it on water contamination.

These people have been living close to a toxic solar evaporation pond of the now-closed plant of Union Carbide India Ltd.

There are some 8,000-9,000 tonnes of toxic wastes dumped in the premises of the plant which are awaiting disposal. These are said to be the source of chemical contamination of the groundwater in the area.

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) stopped supply of water through 96 tanks in 14 localities after people complained of health problems.

The residents were soon offered another option: supply of water from a nearby location in Raslakhedi village, also the site of a major sewage canal. However, a report of the State Pollution Control Board says this water is not suitable for drinking according to the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) specifications.

The water has not been tested by the authorities since last year. Another startling fact is that the BMC commissioner is ignorant of the source of water supply (Raslakhedi), its location and the contamination limit of the water.

As expected, a blame game is on between the BMC and the Bhopal Gas Relief and Rehabilitation Department. The department says it is following the court guidelines and working as a nodal agency, while the BMC says it is the department?s responsibility to ensure the water is tested.

?This is for the first time I have heard of Raslakhedi. Where is it? We perform our own chemical and physical tests before supply. I don?t have any idea under which project we supply water to the gas affected. Please ask the gas relief department.? This was how BMC Commissioner Nikunj Shrivastava responded to a query on the source of contaminated water in the area.

The gas relief department also gave a similar reply. ?Sir, chalta hai ?thoda bahoot zahar to hum sab peetey hain (A little bit of contamination is fine),? an official said, adding that ?the water has been tested. The BMC and the State Pollution Control Board test reports say the water is safe on five parameters?.

The Raslakhedi water, according to the pollution control board report, has 600 TDS (total dissolved solids) against the BIS norm of 500, while alkalinity is 350 against the prescribed norm of 200, and hardness limit is 350 against the prescribed figure of 300.

A la NEERI, despite its neglect of actual groundwater testing or appropriate study parameters the dubious draft report has been accompanied with the announcement of a conclusion so absent of scientific precaution - 'the groundwater is not contaminated' - that it can only have been designed to stand in slack-jawed opposition to the numerous studies - never mind the social and medical evidence - that prove that when several thousand tonnes of mutagens and carcinogens are buried in unsealed pits in the ground they eventually begin to emerge again via the water table. You can read about some of those studies here and here and here.

In this instance, Dow's useful idiot, S C Tiwari, HoD PSM, is probably only following orders. Coming soon to bhopal.net: prima facie evidence of Dow's insistence that not only national but also local government agencies are required to be warbling from the same song sheet concerning the factory contamination...

Contamination? What contamination?

HT Correspondent, Bhopal, December 2, 2007

The draft of a scientific study on potential health impact of
groundwater contamination in the vicinity of abandoned Union Carbide
factory by the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) of Gandhi Medical College has triggered a fresh controversy.

NGOs working  for welfare of the 1984 Union Carbide disaster have
expressed severe concern over the PSM's conclusion that 'groundwater as no more responsible for any infection or diseases in the effected
areas'.

"The study is unfair and 'in accord' to the Dow Chemicals", claimed
Rachna Dhingra of Bhopal Group for Information and Action. "PSM officials were followed by our members throughout the survey.  The study designed by the department was faulty, and the data collection was entirely wrong", she said.

The NGO further said that major parts of the questionnaires were filled at the end of the day by the research assistants with imaginary
information.

"Most subjects were not asked questions related to cancers, birth
defects and reproductive history of women", said the NGO adding that their suggestions were overlooked during the study. The 'suggestions' even included a demand of discontinuing the study.

The PSM officials refuted the allegations claiming that their study had covered 4000 families living in 'controlled' and 'affected' areas and was up to the mark.

"The groundwater is not contaminated.  We have found it after a detailed scientific survey.  Suggestions given by the NGOs were taken into account", said S C Tiwari, HoD PSM.

"We have submitted the draft to higher authorities.  Micro analysis of
this draft would be our next procedure apart from taking an experts opinion would be", he added.

Apart from the NGOs, epidemiologist Dr Swaroop Sarkar (UNAIDS Bangkok) who was included in "core group of experts" of the said study too had an objection on its procedure.  In his letter to the PSM head on August 30, 2007, Dr Swaroop (by quoting a copy of PSM's questionnaire for the study) had mentioned that there was no information on the baseline prevalence of the diseases expected to be prevalent in the study population.

"No data is being collected on water source and results of examination of water.  Consent and ethical clearance are absent," wrote Dr Swaroop to Dr Tiwari, adding no international court or journal will admit such study.

Apparently, more NGOs are unsatisfied by the PSM's study.  "The study is not justified.  For example they marked two taps as a source of
contaminated water and requested people to not use it.  But how is that possible that in a small radius two taps will supply contaminated water and others would not?  The study by PSM is dubious and will definitely benefit Dow Chemicals", claimed Habeeb of Chingari Trust.

Meanwhile, there are a few who have raised questions on the role of NGOs in the entire issue.

"Why should these NGOs have any doubt on the PSM's report when their
officials were present during the entire study?  They simply want to create a controversy to rope in more funds from international agencies", alleged Alok Pratap Singh, of Zehrali Gas Kand Sagharsh Morcha.

December 3 is the 15th anniversary of the Bhopal gas leak. What can you do for those people who are still suffering the aftermath of the disaster?

Photo: PTI. Long after the disaster: The agony continues.

Another Children’s Day — another day of fun for some and living with collapsed lungs and stunted growth for others. For the youth in Bhopal, the nightmare from the gas that escaped so many years ago isn’t over. Ask Meera and she will tell you what it’s like to be 25 and have the strength and figure of a 12-year-old.

Talking to school students in the city, Meera (25) and Sarita from Bhopal, drew attention to the dreadful Bhopal gas leak that happened on the night of December 3, 1984, and whose polluting effects not just killed but also destroyed the lives of the young and old alike. Meera was three when it happened and just remembers her mother frantically grabbing her, covering her mouth with a blanket and fleeing into the night. She woke up to a bleak morning. Today she can’t work for too long or too hard. Exhausted easily, she can’t do much to support her family members who are themselves ailing.

Sarita (14) who lives in Prem Nagar in Bhopal, says the water in her area still smells foul. It coats the vessels it is collected in with deposit that’s difficult to wash off. She wasn’t even born when the disaster occurred but the aftermath is probably as bitter. Muskan was born in 2005 in Jawahar Lal Nehru Hospital, Bhopal. Her father is a porter and earns about Rs.1,200 per month. They live in Blue Moon colony, Bhopal for the last 14 years. She didn’t cry when she was born. When she was two months old her body temperature used to remain abnormally high. Now, aged two, she is a certified mentally challenged. This is due to air pollutants so dangerous that it has affected children born long after the pollutants were released.

Suffering continues

Twelve-year-old Shubham is the son of gas-affected parents. Unable to speak, he would love to go to school but he cannot get admission in a mainstream school as his mother does not earn enough to admit him in a special school.

When Akash was born his eyes were stuck together. He could not open them. When the relatives tried to open his eyes, they got swollen. As he grew up one eye opened a little, so that he can see partially.

The gas leak has contaminated the groundwater and people who can’t afford bottled water are forced to drink it. They are aware of the risks of using polluted water, but they have no option.

Telling the city students their stories, believe Sarita and Meera , will help draw more young people into the movement for justice. Students of Kumar Rani Meena Muthiah H.S.S asked why would a youth movement make a difference? Sarita says governments listen to young people as they are the citizens of the future.

The Olcott students had some very interesting questions. “Why doesn’t Sarita move to another location?”, they asked.

Sarita says, “It is not just about me moving away somewhere safer. The whole area is poisoned. The solution lies in clearing away the waste and not in shifting people. Union Carbide and Dow must pay for the clean up and the removal of the waste and should take the waste back to the U.S. and dispose it safely so that no one even there is affected.”

December 3 is the 15th anniversary of the Bhopal gas leak. Do your bit for people who are suffering for no fault of theirs. Read up on the disaster.

Understand why it’s still counted among the world’s worst industrial disasters. As a company it had a history of burst pipelines and other minor issues that did auger for bigger problems later on.

Besides a company dealing with chemicals had no business to be in the middle of a city anyway. Draw up posters. Talk about it during the school assembly. Make those in the lower classes aware about what happened. The victims are yet to get justice. This December make their fight your responsibility too.

Meanwhile a group run by Muslims has been distributing biryani [rice cooked with meat] which Hindus won't eat. This state of affairs began on the first day.

On the afternoon of the 14th residents of Rajgarh [a mixed community of Muslims and Hindus] organised a chakka jaam [blocking traffic] demanding medical care and monetary relief from the government.

A van carrying people from Seva Bharati attempted to cross the blockade and there was an altercation with the leader of the protesters who is himself a low caste Hindu.

The Seva Bharati people went back and roused their followers. About 1,000 of them came to Rajgarh Colony threatening violence. More than 100 were carrying swords. A large police force was present but they did nothing to stop those who were brandishing swords.

The tension diffused by early evening after the RSS followers were assured that police would take action against those who had stopped the Seva Bharati van. Since then about 15 residents of Rajgarh Colony, most of them Muslims, and their Hindu leader, have been arrested. Their families allege that some have been tortured in police custody. There is little doubt among the ordinary people that the arrests and torture have been ordered by higher-ups in the government that is run by the BJP hindu fundamentalist party.

Our teams came back around 4 pm and reported talking to about a hundred families who hadn't eaten for two days. Many of their houses were completely submerged and all were among the very poorest residents.

At 5 pm we decided to pool our resouces. The first donation of 500 rupees came from Faisal, the local BBC correspondent. Sathyu put in another 500 and Shahid said he would raise the rest from people in his neighbourhood.

Shahid's neighbours, who are all people with limited means, gave whatever they could. Mehra who runs a small store gave 25 kilos of wheat flour [aattaa]. Raju Bhai who runs a provision store gave another 25 kilos. Kaka who has a small store gave 5 kilos of oil. Maliram who runs the store next to Kaka's gave 10 kilos of aataa.

Saleem Bhai, Ram Singh and Sharad each donated 50 rupees. Shahid's aunt Akhtar Bee went out and bought 400 rupees worth of vegetables.

A Mr Gupta, who owns a roadside restaurant, donated his stove for the evening. Pappu Verma who has a "tent house" [he rents out marquees, chairs and utensils for weddings and parties] gave his cooking vessels for free.

Cooking began in front of the offices of the survivors organisations at around 8 pm and before midnight there was potato curry and puris [deep fried bread] for 600 people.

The cooking was done by two professional cooks who gladly donated their time and skills.

Firdaus, Aftab Bee, Guddu Bhai, Afsar, Verma, Chetan, Mehfuz, Raja, Satish, David, Parvati, Narayan Sarathe – Hindus, Muslims and a Christian - all helped together in chopping and washing and packing the food into individual packets.

The food was carried on a three wheeler "loading auto" free of charge by Kailash. Leaders of survivors organizations Hazra Bee, Syed M Irfan, Mira, Shahid Noor and supporter Vikas worked hard and with the help of local young men and women distributed the packets of puris and aloo curry to the hungry people.

Lalita Bai told her story to Aziza:

At around 4 early morning water came over the boundary wall of the factory gushing towards our houses. In no time there was five feet water inside our home. One of my neighbours carried me on his shoulder up onto his roof. Others in my family were also helped by neighbours.

65 year old Biniya Bai, Raj Bai and Pradip Singh Tomar [42] risked their lives helping people out of the water. My three-month-old granddaughter Poonam fell in to the water and was saved by our neighbours. They wrapped her in a blanket and put her in a dry place.

All our food grain is wet and wasted.

Laxmi told her story to Ritesh:

I had made daal and roti [bread] for dinner like every other day. We went to bed at around 10 PM. We did not know that some thing like
this could happen. My husband was the first to get up early next morning at around 4 AM. By then water had already risen to 3 feet inside the house. He woke all of us up.

We saw that water was flowing over the boundary wall of Union Carbide factory and coming towards our houses. we went up on the roof
of our neighbour. we saw large snakes coming out of cracks in the wall.

The water kept rising in the house. All our bedding and what ever grains we had - about two quintals - were submerged and wasted for ever. We have lost about ten thousand rupees.

We have not stopped itching all over our bodies ever since we
waded through the water. We also have eye infections, fever and colds. Many people in the basti have similar complaints and everyone has eye problems.

Grain drying in Shakti Nagar. The grain had been inundated with water flowing from the flooded Union Carbide factory. Unable to afford to lose their small stores, desperate people washed the grain with water from taps to try to save it.

Three teams from the Sambhavna Trust Clinic today went out to deliver medical relief to different areas. Each team took with them water purifying tablets, medicines and health education pamphlets.

Observations from Shakti Nagar and Atal-Ayub Nagar

Aziza, Masarrat, Ritesh and Biju went to Shakti Nagar and Atal-Ayub Nagar.

They found people suffering from loose motions, vomiting, fever, body ache, and skin rashes and eruptions. The skin problems affect the parts of people's bodies that were under water. Most adults have skin eruptions on the lower half of their bodies, below the waist, for many children they reached to their necks.

In Shakti Nagar 35 houses next to the boundary wall of the Union Carbide factory were submerged and damaged. In Atal-Ayub Nagar there were 100 such houses. Government officials have distributed water puriying tablets here. Everyone had a story to tell about people helping each other and saving lives. Krishna Tomar [55], Pushpa Rathore [35] and Radha Bai [45] helped the team in distributing medicines and other stuff.

Observations from Shaaheen Colony and Sundar Nagar

Tasneem, Anand, Jyoti and Brian went to Sundar Nagar and Shaaheen Colony.

The team placed themselves in 5 different spots in these bastis and, with active help from local teenage boys, distributed medicines, pamphlets, water purifying tablets and medical advice. Officials had done a cursory survey but left out quite a few houses. No medicines had been distributed by government officials. People complain of itching, cold, hoarseness of voice, chest pain and body ache.

Observations from Oriya Basti and Shankar Nagar

Mukesh, Shehanaz, Tabassum, S M Nasir and Adriane went to Oriya Basti and Shankar Nagar.

Here our team found three people from Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital distributing medicines. They were handing out, quite inappropriately, strong antibiotics for children in the form of amoxycillin and metronidazole suspensions, and potentially harmful pain killers such as sodium diclofenac. The main complaints being reported are itching and skin eruptions, fever, loose motions and abdominal pain. Whatever foodgrain people had in their homes is now wasted. People want food here and clothes becaue all they had is wet.

Donations of medicine

Mr Lalit Jain donated a box of medicines, Dr Goswani donated 5000 water purifying tablets each tablet good for 20 litres of water. Tomorrow our teams will visit the bastis that are most in need of medical care and other assistance.

Making a donation to help the flood relief work

Donations can be made online to the Bhopal Medical Appeal, which funds the work of the Sambhavna Trust Clinic, by clicking here now.

Please note, the Bhopal Medical Appeal is a project of the Pesticide Action Network, UK, and so the receipt on your credit card statement will say PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK.

MORE PICTURES AND STORIES BELOW.

Sambhavna health workers distribute Ayurvedic medicines in Shakti Nagar.

Laxmi talking to Ritesh.

Grain drying in Shakti Nagar. The grain had been inundated with water flowing from the flooded Union Carbide factory. Unable to afford to lose their small stores, desperate people washed the grain with water from taps to try to save it.

Making a donation to help the flood relief work

Donations can be made online to the Bhopal Medical Appeal, which funds the work of the Sambhavna Trust Clinic, by clicking here now.

Please note, the Bhopal Medical Appeal is a project of the Pesticide Action Network, UK, and so the receipt on your credit card statement will say PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK.

Ritesh distributing oral rehydration salts

Aziza distributing medicine

Masarrat handing out health advisory pamphlets written and printed by Sambhavna the day before

Making a donation to help the flood relief work

Donations can be made online to the Bhopal Medical Appeal, which funds the work of the Sambhavna Trust Clinic, by clicking here now.

Please note, the Bhopal Medical Appeal is a project of the Pesticide Action Network, UK, and so the receipt on your credit card statement will say PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK.

Today, I saw where all of that water and flotsam ended up – in the ironically-named neighborhood of Sunder Nagar. The name roughly means "beautiful place." There is nothing beautiful about the pools of stagnant water and mud throughout the neighborhood today. Sambhavna staff and volunteers took action today after conducting a survey of flood-affected neighborhoods this week. The water washed away the homes, food supplies, and household belongings of people already suffering the after-effects of exposure to Union Carbide's methylisocyanate gas in 1984 and decades of neglect in the communities they have built themselves with the scarce resources and materials available to them. In the meantime, the flood delivered water-borne and mosquito-borne diseases to the doorsteps of the residents of Sunder Nagar.

I was privileged to accompany the Sambhavna staff on their visit to Sunder Nagar today to distribute free medications to the residents there suffering from those diseases. As soon as we arrived, word spread of the arrival of help and residents flocked to the distribution point. The staff members, Tasneem and Jyoti, carefully recorded the names and symptoms of each person they spoke with as well as the medications distributed. Meanwhile, Anand went door-to-door to distribute a 4-day supply of water purifyng tablets to the householders.

I recorded the scene of terrible adversity that the already-afflicted people of Sunder Nagar face in the wake of the flood. Several people I spoke with said that no local officials had yet surveyed their houses for damages, let alone distribute assistance. When I asked one man who has helped them, he responded, "Only Allah." The flood deposited a thick layer of mud and garbage throughout the neighborhood, including the interior of the houses. Those homes nearest the small creek that runs alongside the neighborhood suffered the most damage. Many of these homes consist of one solid room of brick and concrete and adjoining rooms built of whatever material is available.

In this neighborhood, the available building material appeared to be two-foot square metal vents, wooden poles, and blue plastic sheeting. Those makeshift rooms were mostly washed away.

The man in one photograph wearing a turban told me how his chickens literally flew the coop to escape the floodwaters.

The chickens were his livelihood as he planned to sell them in the market. Other people lost goats. In many houses, I saw grains drying on the ground that had been spoiled by the waters.

As I stood surveying the muck that the residents must wade through just to reach their front doors, I realized that there were indeed some things about Sunder Nagar that remain beautiful. The rains did not wash away Bhopali hospitality. One man whose meager existence was made worse by the flood invited me repeatedly inside for some tea. In many houses where I was invited to take pictures, people offered me water to drink. In many of the pictures that I took, I found people smiling amid the devastation in the photographs, as happy as ever to greet a foreign visitor.

Most compelling, however, were the young men who quickly came over to us when we arrived. At first, like many idle young men, they engaged in typical male joking and posturing for the attention of my camera. After a short while, though, they had assumed responsibilities for helping Anand on his door-to-door delivery of water purifying tablets and one-page sheets of health information. Soon, they were also helping to carry the bags of medications for us and leading us safely through nearly impassable alleys filled with muck and sludge. After having joked with me at the start, one young man told me a few times that he hoped he wasn't being a bother to me. At the end of the afternoon, they came back to Sambhavna Clinic where they joined our meeting in order to learn more about volunteering for the Clinic in their own neighborhood.

Treated with dignity and realizing the opportunity to do something meaningful for their community, they were rapidly transformed into health education volunteers under Anand's guidance.

Making a donation to help the flood relief work

Donations can be made online to the Bhopal Medical Appeal, which funds the work of the Sambhavna Trust Clinic, by clicking here now.

Please note, the Bhopal Medical Appeal is a project of the Pesticide Action Network, UK, and so the receipt on your credit card statement will say PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK.

Lad and stagnant water

Meeting at Sambhavna Clinic: Anand briefing young men from local bastis about communal flood relief

A man whose chickens flew the coop, costing him his livelihood

Rage

Debris and collapsed shanties

Making a donation to help the flood relief work

Donations can be made online to the Bhopal Medical Appeal, which funds the work of the Sambhavna Trust Clinic, by clicking here now.

Please note, the Bhopal Medical Appeal is a project of the Pesticide Action Network, UK, and so the receipt on your credit card statement will say PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK.

Health Education

We have produced 5000 pamphlets on simple preventive measures [drink boiled or disinfected water, wash hands with soap before eating, put small amounts of kerosene or burnt engine oil on stagnant pools in your neighbourhood].

Symptoms and first contact treatments [including herbal, we are recommending 'bhuiamla for treating hepatitis and turmeric and oil for skin diseases and home remedies such as lime water for loose motions] for malaria, hepatitis, typhoid, loose motions, vomiting and skin diseases. This will be distributed by about 10 people from sambhavna. More will be printed tomorrow.

Medicines

We have made a list of medicines that will be immediately required including quantities in which we need:

1. Paracetamol 500 mg 20, 000 Tabs for fever and aches
2. Chlorpheniramine Maleate 4 mg 10, 000 Tabs for cold, itching, cough and other symptoms of allergy
3. Oral Rehydration Salts 20, 000 packets for loose motion, vomiting, causing dehydration.
4. Marichadi Taila 10 litres for Ayurvedic prepared in the clinic skin diseases
5. Khadiradi Vati 10 Ayurvedic purchased kilogram for cough and cold
6. Sarjaras ointment 500 tins Ayurvedic prepared in the clinic for wounds and ulcers

We have purchased these medicines [except #4 and #6 which we produce ourselves] and have thankfully received 3,000 tablets of paracetamol, 3,000 tablets chlorphniramine maleate and 300 packets of Oral rehydration salts from Mr Atul Patel a long term supporter of Sambhavna. We have not been able to get a supply of water purifying tablets and are expecting a large supply of them from Mr Patel's contacts tomorrow morning.

Saturday plans

Tomorrow at noon 4 or 5 groups of Sambhavna staff with other volunteers will move with the pamphlets, medicines, water purifier tablets, cameras, and note books and pencils.

In several of the bastis they visited today they have already formed peoples' health committees. in these places the administration of medicines will be done by health committees.

In the others it will be done along with people in the bastis who haven't formed a committee yet but are known to the health workers well and who are personally interested in helping others. Information [extent of damage done, spread of toxic water, illnesses, peoples' needs, other initiatives to help those in distress etc] will also be gathered by the Sambhavna members and volunteers as well as photo documentation.

Local Support

The Private Medical Practitioners Association of Bhopal [PMPA] has offered to provide free consultation to individuals who are referred by us. Individuals needing urgent medical attention can be identified by people in the local health committee and be referred to doctors who are members of the PMPA.

We expect to include a small group of volunteer lab technicians who will visit the bastis and prepare blood slides for testing malaria and collect stool specimens for stomach infections and assess the pathology test requirements of the population.

Media Work

We will distribute an account of our findings and work to the media tomorrow and make an appeal for support from individuals and organisations.

Making a donation to help the flood relief work

Donations can be made online to the Bhopal Medical Appeal, which funds the work of the Sambhavna Trust Clinic, by clicking here now.

Please note, the Bhopal Medical Appeal is a project of the Pesticide Action Network, UK, and so the receipt on your credit card statement will say PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK.