In pictures: Bhopal 35 years on

2 December 2019

Judah Passow Union Carbide plant, Bhopal, India

It has been 35 years since thousands of people in Bhopal were killed by a gas leak at a Union Carbide chemicals plant that released tonnes of poisonous gases over the Indian city.

At least 3,000 people are thought to have died in the first 24 hours - and thousands more from the after-effects, making it the world's worst industrial disaster.

Thousands more people went on to develop fatal lung diseases and others have been left with lifelong disabilities.

Photographer Judah Passow has been photographing those who live in the shadow of the rusting remains of the chemical plant.

Judah Passow A patient has an x-ray taken at the Shakir Ali Khan hospital — A patient has an X-ray at the Shakir Ali Khan hospital to monitor his respiratory problems. As a young boy, he was exposed to the toxic gas cloud caused by the explosion.

Judah Passow Doctors at the Chirayu Cancer Hospital in Bhopal examine a patient who lives near to the abandoned plant. — Campaigners say nearly 20,000 people have died from the effects of the leak. Many others still bear the scars.

Judah Passow A resident of the Blue Moon neighbourhood — A resident of the Blue Moon neighbourhood, just outside the wall of the abandoned chemical plant. In 1984 more than 550,000 people lived in the area affected, about two-thirds of the population of Bhopal.

Judah Passow A hose bringing fresh water into the home of a family living near the abandoned plant — Fresh water is supplied through hoses as scientists and campaigners believe some of the chemicals continue to leak into the soil and ground water.

Judah Passow Nisha (left) and a friend at the Chingari Trust physical therapy clinic in Bhopal — Victims say children are still being born with disabilities because of the effects of the spill.

Judah Passow Prachi Chug undergoes physical therapy — Prachi Chug has cerebral palsy and mental-development problems. Her mother was exposed to the toxic gas cloud on the night of the explosion.

Judah Passow Steam therapy — Steam therapy at the Sambhavna Trust clinic, in Bhopal, which treats victims, using traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine.

Judah Passow Hand prints of children who have been treated at the Chingari Trust physical therapy clinic — Handprints of children treated at the Chingari Trust physical-therapy clinic, in Bhopal, for acute medical conditions.

Judah Passow Pupils at the Oriya neighbourhood primary school — Pupils play at the Oriya neighbourhood primary school, in Bhopal, which was founded with funds from the Dominique Lapierre foundation, which also supports the Sambhavna clinic with profits from the book Five Past Midnight in Bhopal by Lapierre and Javier Moro.

Judah Passow Demonstrators marching through the street of Bhopal to mark the 34th anniversary of the Union Carbide chemical plant disaster — Compensation paid to the victims was accepted as a fair settlement by the Supreme Court of India in 1989 - but many feel further compensation and a clean-up of the area is required. Last year, demonstrators marched through the streets of Bhopal to mark the 34th anniversary of the disaster.

All photographs by Judah Passow