BHOPAL: The coronavirus pandemic is turning out to be hellish for survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, the world’s worst industrial accident. Ten of them have been killed by the virus now, sparking panic in the community that is bound by tragedy rather than caste or religion.
All of Bhopal’s 10 dead Covid-19 patients are gas victims. And nearly all of them tested positive after death, including the latest victim, 70-year-old Razaq Qureshi, a resident of Putlighar. He died at the state-run Hamidia Hospital on April 22 and his report came positive on Friday, said Qureshi’s son. He had hypertension and diabetes.
Gas victims are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 as exposure to the gas in 1984 damaged their lungs and other organs, and left them with weakened immunity.
Madhya Pradesh high court recent
