Bapora (Bandipore), Dec 5: The lone Bhopal Gas tragedy victim from Jammu and Kashmir has been awaiting compensation for the past 27-years.
 Then an army officer Ghulam Muhammad Wani of Bapora Arin lost his kidney after inhaling the poisonous gas, which left hundreds dead and thousands disabled, on December 2, 1984.
 Recalling that fateful day Wani, victim no. 573221, while talking to Greater Kashmir said, “I was 38 year-old when the tragedy struck. The poisonous Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) engulfed the American-owned Union Carbide Pesticide Plant 4.8 kms from Bhopal city in Madhya Pradesh.”
 “I was working as Weapon Training Officer of 12th JAKLI in 3 EME Training Centre Bhopal. Soon after the gas leak my unit was asked to join the rescue operations. I was leading a team of soldiers and we were rescuing the victims but I myself got caught in the emitting gas and became unconscious, after that my kidney was removed,” Wani said.
 “Government released compensation in favour of my comrade Major Khanuja now Colonel as both of us inhaled the gas, but I was left in a lurch,” Wani said.
 He retired on June 30, 1989, and he is now living in this north Kashmir village with his wife Haleema Begum, 58, who is also suffering from various ailments.
 “We have no source of income except a few thousand rupees of pension which get consumed in medicines and medical checkups,’ said Haleema.
 Wani said that he ran from pillar to post to seek the compensation that was promised to him. “I even wrote to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh but all my efforts went in a vain,” he added.
 “I am a victim of discrimination, had I been the resident of the state other than JK, I may have received the compensation by now,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 5 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 5 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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