According to figures published by the Indian government’s apex medical research organization, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), at least 20,000 people had died by 2009 from injuries caused by the gas leak. ICMR’s research shows also that between 1984 and 1989 there were 3,500 spontaneous abortions as a result of gas exposure. These need to be taken into account. In the Curative Petition filed in the Supreme Court, the Indian government has ignored the findings of its own research agency and presented a ridiculously low figure of 5,295 deaths caused by the gas disaster.
Correcting the figures and fixing compensation
Compensation required based on 1991 payouts adjusted for inflation
The figures in this chart reflect the correct number of victims, drawn from the government’s own figures. Each is entitled to the payout given to the lower number of victims in 1991, and when those sums are adjusted for inflation from 1991-present, we get the figures that the government should be seeking in the Curative Petition.
How the correct figures were calculated
Asterisks and footnotes refer to figures given in Chart I above.
*Figures till 2009 including spontaneous abortions till 1989.
** Combined population (as per figures of 1984) currently with exposure induced illnesses in moderately and mildly affected areas less the number of exposure related deaths in these areas.
*** Population of severely affected area (as per figures of 1984) less number of deaths.
Categories not supported by ICMR’s decadal study
Note 1
Does not include injuries caused to next generation victims
Note 2
Figures of resident population of severely, moderately and mildly affected area (as per figures in 1984) based on ICMR’s decadal study on long term health impact
Note 3
Range of compensation
Note 4
Average of maximum and minimum compensation amounts
Note 5
Compensation payable in 2010 adjusted for inflation (increase in CPI= 4.88)
These figures do not include damage to the next generation of victims nor compensation for the contamination of water and consequent health injuries in communities of about 40,000 people.
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