Back ground: One of the biggest chemical disasters resulting in tragic loss of human life accounting for more than 2500 deaths and serious damage to thousands of people, animal and plants took place in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh, India). The disaster followed leakage of large quantity of highly toxic gas on the mid night of 2nd-3rd Decmber,1984 at the union Carbide Factory in Bhopal from stainless steel Tank No.610 Besides death, it led to multisystem/organ involvement, by symptomatic morbidities (lungs/ eyes main target organs) which caused high infant mortality . Methodology: To study mortalities and morbidities besides other objectives a long term Prospective epidemiological study was planned through six community health clinics to follow the cohort of affected people living in gas affected area an 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%. We found that control area was very near to national urban infant mortality rate but affected area infant mortality rate were lower than the national figure in the year 2010.The Government has increased access to minimum essential services at door step that would significantly reduce high infant mortality rate.
