Help is needed in Bradford later this year to welcome survivors from India’s Bhopal gas disaster.

Organisers of the four-day visit in September are looking for interpreters in Hindi and Urdu.

Jane Howie, from the Workers’ Health Advice Team, says the trip is on a low budget so offers of interpreting services for free would be ideal, although expenses can be paid.

She said the purpose of the visit was for the survivors to raise awareness of their plight and the ongoing pollution and water contamination from the factory site.

“It will give us in Bradford a chance to offer our solidarity and support,” she added.

The visitors due to come are Rashida Bee, co-leader of the Women Stationery Workers’ Union, and Balkrishna Namdeve, who is leader of the Destitute Pensioners group.

Rashida, who is a Muslim, and Balkrishna, who is from a Hindu family, were both young adults when the disaster happened in 1984 and were both affected by the chemical leak.

Plans for their stay in Bradford include a public meeting, a visit to City Hall, time at the Bhopal Memorial Tree in Lister Park’s Mogul Gardens and a trip to Salts Mill in Saltaire.

The Bhopal disaster is known as one of the world’s worst industrial catastrophes. It happened on the night of December 2, 1984, at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

A leak of methyl isocyanate gas and other chemicals from the plant resulted in the exposure of hundreds of thousands of people with the toxic substance.

The death toll was 3,787 deaths related to the actual gas release, with thousands more dying within weeks and more than 8,000 since.

A government report in 2006 said there were another 558,125 injuries caused. In June 2010, seven ex-employees, including the former plant chairman, were convicted of causing death by negligence and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of about £1,500 each, the maximum punishment allowed by law. An eighth former employee was also convicted, but died before judgment was passed.

* Anyone interested in interpreting for the visit should contact Jane Howie or Carol Duerden on (01274) 393949 or e-mail contact@what-bradford.org.uk.