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The capital of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal was built on the site of 11th century city of Bhojpal. It was founded by legendry King Raja Bhoj who is credited with having constructed the lakes around which the city is built. The present city was laid out by the Afghan Chief Dost Mohammed Khan, who was incharge of Bhopal during Aurangzeb's reign, but took advantage of the confusion following Aurangzeb's death in 1707 to carve out his own small kingdom.
Today, Bhopal has a multifaceted profile. There is the old city with its crowded but vibrant market places, huge Tajul mosque, beautifully carved Moti Masjid (Mosque) in the heart of old Bhopal, and the palaces of former Begums (Queens) who ruled over city from 1819 to 1926.
The new city with its broad avenues and posh residential areas lies to the south. In the center of Bhopal are two lakes , upper lake and lower lake dividing the new and old city of Bhopal.
Bhopal is hardly on travellers itinerary, but it has relaxed feel for a state capital, a number of cultural attractions and is good base for some excellent excursions.
The city is also infamous as the site of the world's worst ever industrial disaster, The Bhopal Gas Tragedy or The Bhopal Disaster.
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On the tragic night of December 3rd, 1984, exactly five past midnight in Bhopal, 40 tonnes of deadly methyl isocyanate (MIC), a toxic gas used in the manufacture of pesticides leaked out from the Union Carbide's pesticide plant located in a densly populated area surrounded by slums in Bhopal. Within short span, helped by the wind, the deadly gas engulfed major part of Bhopal's Old City as well as some parts of New Bhopal.
It hit hard in nearby slums, leaving 6000 dead, most of them falling by roadside trying to run for their lives after feeling suffocated while in deep mid-night sleep.The night was full of tragedies for the residents otherwise relaxed city of 600,000 people then. Minutes after the chemical leak, feeling the pungent smell of deadly gas, residents started to run on streets. It was all Chaos everywhere and no one knew what exactly was happening, those were the days prior to arrival of 24x7 news channels or FM Radio revolution. No one was aware of whats happening and no one was there to tell what to do.
The chemical leak left almost 100,000 people incapaciated for life and 100,000 more being affected in some way or other. Till date around 25,000 victims of Bhopal gas tragedy have succumbed to death owing to ailments caused by the gas leak.
In following years, victims, Governemt of India and Union Carbide Coporation which owned the deadly plant, got entangled in legal battles. Union Carbide ended up paying almost US $ 450 million in form of compnesation to the victims and their family members. However the quantum of compensation paid and modus of its distribution still remains a very contentious issue.
No money can ever compensate the loss of lives or sufferings of a generation of residents. |
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