Hundreds Protest Reported $500-Million Bhopal Settlement
Hundreds of women and children who survived the 1984 Bhopal gas-leak disaster, some carrying placards reading “Multinational Murderers Go Scot-Free,” marched Tuesday in protest of a reported $500-million settlement between the Union Carbide Corp. and the Indian government.
Officials of the two sides have indicated that agreement was near on a settlement in the disaster that left at least 2,600 people dead and more than 200,000 injured.
Union Carbide would pay out the money over 10 years in compensation for the world’s worst industrial accident, a source close to the negotiations said.
However, both Union Carbide and Indian officials expressed doubt that all details would be worked out before today, when the case is scheduled to go to trial.
Judge M. W. Deo of Bhopal District Court has said he will start trial on the government suit against the firm, based in Danbury, Conn., if no settlement is reached, although he has extended the deadline once.
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