Download the all-new Republic app:

Published 20:41 IST, January 25th 2020

Bhopal Gas tragedy activist Abdul Jabbar, awarded Padma Shri posthumously

Bhopal Gas tragedy activist Abdul Jabbar, has been awarded Padma Shri, posthumously.  Jabbar fought for justice to victims and survivors of the 1984 tragedy.

Reported by: Digital Desk
Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
null | Image: self
Advertisement

Bhopal Gas tragedy activist Abdul Jabbar, has been awarded Padma Shri, posthumously.  Abdul Jabbar who fought for justice to victims and survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, passed away on 14th November 2019 at a private hospital in Bhopal city after a prolonged illness due to the infamous Bhopal Gas tragedy.

READ | 54 civilians will be conferred with Jeevan Raksha Padak awards on R-Day

Advertisement

Jabbar had lost nearly 50% of his vision and suffered from lung fibrosis in the Bhopal gas tragedy, which is known to be the world's worst industrial disaster. Jaffar had also lost his mother, father and brother in the gas leak incident.

He had organised several protests, seeking compensation for the gas tragedy victims' kin and survivors. In 1987, he started the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan, one of the organisations that fought the cause of victims of the industrial disaster.

Advertisement

READ | Republic Day: 1040 police personnel to be honoured with gallantry awards

Jaffar was severely diabetic and was moved from one hospital to another during his illness. He suffered multiple heart ailments due to which Madhya Pradesh Government had announced that it would bear expenses of his treatment. As his condition worsened, the government was making preparations to airlift him on 19 November 2019 to be shifted to Mumbai's Asian Heart Hospital for further treatment. However, Jaffar passed away before he could be shifted to Mumbai.

Advertisement

READ | CRPF gunslinger who neutralised 50 terrorists in J-K, to receive 6th PMG on Republic Day

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy was a severe gas leakage on the intervening night of December 2 and 3 in 1984 at the Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL) Pesticide Plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The tragedy has claimed more than 15,000 lives after the deadly methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the UCIL pesticide plant. The CEO of the Union Carbide Corporation at the time of the disaster, Warren Anderson, an American, escaped from India after the mishap happened. There had also been several complaints of gas leaks since the commissioning of the plant however none were taken seriously leading to the fatal disaster.

Advertisement

READ | Republic Day 2020: Why India chose January 26 as Republic Day?

(With inputs from ANI)

20:41 IST, January 25th 2020