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Assist Bhopal

Assist Bhopal is a story of the unabating effects of the worst industrial disaster the world has known- gas leak at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. On the morning of December 3, 1984 more than 40 tons of methyl isocyante (MIC) gas leaked from the India Union Carbide Limited plant, creating a dense cloud over a resident population of about 500,000. That night 8000 people died due to inhalation of this lethal gas, and over time another 20,000 fatalities have been directly attributable to the accident. Today, an estimated 200,000 people suffer from chronic illnesses resulting from this accident.

Inspired by Professor Lalita du Perron, Associate Director, Center for South Asia, UW-Madison, who addressed an assembly at my school regarding modern day issues in India, I visited Bhopal and produced this documentary which highlights the unfortunate situation of the children who continue to be afflicted with the inherited sequelae of the original catastrophe.

  • Megan Sai Dogra
    Director
    Birth of a Dream, Scorched Earth: A British Soldier's Memoir of India's Partition
  • Megan Sai Dogra
    Writer
    Birth of a Dream, Scorched Earth: A British Soldier's Memoir of India's Partition
  • Megan Sai Dogra
    Producer
    Birth of a Dream, Scorched Earth: A British Soldier's Memoir of India's Partition
  • Noor Lodhi
    Music
    Josh, Maya
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Student
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 18 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 19, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    1,800 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Milwaukee Youth Show, Milwaukee Film Festival 2014
    Oriental Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
    September 28, 2014
  • All American High School Film Festival
    AMC, Times Square, New York
    October 10, 2015
  • International Student Film Festival Hollywood
    North Hollywood, California
    November 14, 2015
  • Global Public Health Film Festival- Toxic Exposures
    143rd APHA Annual Meeting and Public Exposition in Chicago
    November 2, 2015
  • Tassie Eco Film Festival
    Hobart
    Honorable Mention Laurel.
Director Biography - Megan Sai Dogra

Megan is a 17-year-old high school junior. She is the founder of Assist Bhopal, a charity organization to help the disabled children of the the survivors of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
Her debut film, Birth of a Dream was screened at the Milwaukee Film Festival 2013. A story of hard work and determination, the highlight was an interview with Louise Brown, world's first test-tube baby.
Megan is very active in giving back to her community. She is very passionate about helping those in need. She volunteers at various organizations in the metro Milwaukee area.

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Director Statement

During my visit to Chingari Rehabilitation Center, one of the patients that I met with was a 12 year old boy, Mohammad Zaid who suffers from mucopolysacharidosis, AAD with C1 stenosis and cervical myelopathy nurick's grade – 4. He cannot stand or sit without support. He is a very smart and wants to study to be a doctor. The sad truth is that he may not even live long enough. That is just heart breaking.
That is when I decided; I will be the voice of these children. I will do everything I can to help them.
Assist Bhopal is a window for the world to see what I witnessed in Bhopal!