New Delhi, Dec 2(IANS) Hundreds of citizens of Delhi and representatives of civil society groups gathered at Jantar Mantar in the heart of the capital Tuesday evening to mark the 24th anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy and pledged to “detoxify” the country. Music and poetry recitations, street plays, spontaneous public graffiti, a film on the ‘padyatra’ (foot march) by the victims and second-generation affected children, and an exhibition on Bhopal and other such disasters in the country were also organised on the occasion.

“It is very inspiring to see struggle achieving what they set out for,” said Suroopa Mukherjee, a reader in Hindu College, who was present at the occasion.

She said seeing the long and intense ongoing struggle by Bhopal’s residents to ensure the government does not compromise Indian law and lives for more investments reinforced their conviction in the might of the people against the mighty.

The supporters also shared their own experiences and stories that connect them with this longest running people’s struggle.

On Dec 2-3, 1984, over 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked out of the now defunct Union Carbide’s pesticide plant at Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. The tragedy is known as the world’s worst industrial disaster. The survivors bear the brunt of neurological, hormonal and mental health problems.

Besides the economic hardships, they also face the problem of deformed children being born.