English

Abstract

BACKGROUND : An industrial disaster in form of Methyl Isocyanate and other toxic products leak occurred in Bhopal on night of 2nd /3rd December 1984 and led to death of about 2000 persons and 1000 cattle within 72 hours. Besides death, it led to multisystem/organ involvement, clinically evidenced by symptomatic morbidities (lungs/ eyes main target organs) besides other systems involvement. METHODOLOGY: To study mortalities and morbidities besides other objectives, a Prospective epidemiological study was planned through six community health clinics to follow the cohort of affected people living in gas affected area and a matched control living in distant are a through six monthly house to house survey. Interview of head of family or an adult respondent was taken on the visit. RESULTS: Over the 24 years of the data collection exercise reveals that after acute stage was over the mortalities came down to levels or lower than the national averages for matching age groups. However respiratory causes were the main reason for the mortalities, among both affected as well as control cohort. Respiratory, ophthalmic, gastrointestinal and skin morbidities attained a plateau since 1999, where all morbidities are occurring within 20%. However, morbidities in affected area are found to be higher than seen in control area. Experience suggests