On the night of December 2, 1984, I was with my family in Jaiprakash Nagar, which is situated just across the Union Carbide factory.
We were sleeping. Suddenly, we started coughing, and we heard people screaming: "Run for your lives, gas has leaked from the Carbide factory." Everyone around me was running. I also went out and started running with the crowd. All I remember is that I had run a short distance when I suddenly fell down unconscious. When I regained consciousness I found myself in a hospital.
After the disaster, my husband remained constantly ill. He had severe breathing trouble and also suffered from incurable coughing. Subsequently, he passed away.
I suffer from severe coughing, breathlessness, body pain, non-stop fever and anxiety. Often, there is a severe burning sensation in my stomach.
My children are also weak, unhealthy and constantly ill. One of them, delivered after the tragedy, was born prematurely. He remains constantly ill and is weak compared to children not exposed to the gas.
At the time of the tragedy, there were 21 members in my family. But financial problems forced disintegration of the family.
Before the disaster we led a happy and secure life. My husband earned enough to enable us to live comfortably. My children were able to attend school. But after my husband's death, life has become a struggle.
Neither Union Carbide nor the government has done anything to make our lives worth living. We received Rs 25,000 as compensation, but we had spent a much bigger amount on medical treatment.
Today, I don't have money to even buy medicines. I still live in Jaiprakash Nagar. My children and I do some odd jobs to fend for ourselves. One of my brothers who lives outside Bhopal also sends us some money.
As told to: Ipsha | Photograph: Pradeep Kumar