Bhopal to get Hiroshima-style memorial at Union Carbide site to honour gas tragedy victims

The memorial project gained momentum following the disposal of toxic waste from the Bhopal factory at the TSDF facility in Pithampur in 2025

• MP to build a memorial at Bhopal's Union Carbide site for gas tragedy victims
• Plans include a museum, disaster institute, and wall of victims' names
• Estimated cost for the memorial project is over Rs 1,200 crore

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The Madhya Pradesh government has unveiled plans to develop a memorial at the site of the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, commemorating those who were killed or injured in the MIC gas leak on the night of December 2-3, 1984, The Times of India reports.

The proposed memorial aims to mirror the approach of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, serving as a somber reminder of the tragedy while also highlighting Bhopal's progress as a modern city beyond the shadow of the world's largest industrial disaster.

The Times of India notes that the initiative at the abandoned factory site will allow visitors to engage with the harrowing history of the disaster, its devastating impact on residents, and the long-term trauma endured by the community. It will also showcase how Bhopal has moved forward while honoring the memory of the victims, similar to how memorials in Japan commemorate the 1945 atomic bombings.

The memorial project gained momentum following the disposal of toxic waste from the Bhopal factory at the TSDF facility in Pithampur in 2025, according to The Times of India. Officials said the government plans to develop a master plan for approximately 90 acres of land for the memorial. In addition to a memorial, proposals include establishing an institute on industrial disasters, a wall inscribed with the names of victims, and a museum featuring literature on the catastrophe.

The estimated cost for developing the site is over Rs 1,200 crore, The Times of India reports. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated, "The government will consult all sections of society and affected stakeholders and proceed with the development of the Union Carbide factory campus. Under the guidance of the High Court, a memorial will be built in the now-clean premises in memory of those who lost their lives in the Bhopal gas tragedy."

Swatantra Kumar Singh, director of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation department, told The Times of India, "This (Carbide waste disposal) was the first scientifically done industrial waste transportation and disposal in the country following the highest international standards." Officials further confirmed that artefacts and original structures at the factory premises would be preserved, and the government is considering opening a research institute focused on preventing industrial disasters.