Haunting images show the devastating
effects of uranium mining in Jadugoda
For years, the local population has suffered from the extensive environmental degradation caused by mining operations, responsible for the high frequency of radiation related sicknesses and developmental disorders found in the area. Increases in miscarriages, impotency, infant mortality, Down’s syndrome, skeletal deformities, thalassemia have been reported. With raw radioactive ‘yellow-cake’ production to increase and more than 100,000 tons of radio-active waste stored at Jadugoda the threat to the local tribal communities is set to continue.
Every year countless children are being affected by nuclear radiation. Dhanram Gope, 13, is mentally weak and was born with congenital deformity.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)1 of 19 
Several cases of cancer and skin diseases have been reported from people living near the tailing ponds.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)2 of 19 
Two-year-old Babua Ho, who died suddenly, is buried in the backyard of his house, with his hands put in a glass and a pot of brass according to tradition.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)3 of 19 
An orphan from a young age, Rapda Sardar was like any other healthy man in his village. But at the age of 21, his limbs suddenly started becoming deformed.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)4 of 19 
Young girls sit over the tailing pipe, which carries nuclear waste to the tailing pond.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)5 of 19 
After a few decades of mining in the region, people living around the mines and the tailing ponds are finally falling prey to radiation like young Rakesh.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)6 of 19 
The tailing pipes carrying the nuclear waste pass through roads used by locals.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)7 of 19 
Once a place of scenic beauty, dense forest, low mountains, small villages surrounded by hills and hardworking tribal people, Jadugoda is now a nuclear wasteland.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)8 of 19 
Sanjay Gop, 8, is mentally disabled and has had weak limbs since birth. He attends the local school but is not allowed inside the premises without an aide.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)9 of 19 
A truck driver stands on top of a dumper carrying uranium to the UCIL mill. The uranium dumper drivers are hired by the contractors.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)10 of 19 
Babloo, 7, has been bed-ridden since birth. He suffers from Cerebral Palsy. His father, Bukan Singh Bangkira, works in UCIL as a uranium miner.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)11 of 19 
Laxmi Das has lost eight children within a week of their births. Her ninth child, Gudia, survived but succumbed to cerebral palsy.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)12 of 19 
Maneesha, who is three weeks old, was grossly underweight and weighed merely two pounds.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)13 of 19 
Villagers of the Ho tribe lament the death of a young one in a village.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)14 of 19 
More than a hundred thousand tons of nuclear waste stored in the tailing ponds is constantly producing large amount of toxic gases and nuclear radiation that contaminate the environment. The dumped nuclear waste remains radioactive and dangerous for millions of years.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)15 of 19 
The mill complex of The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) at Jadugoda where the uranium is extracted from the ore.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)16 of 19 
Every year countless number of children are being affected by the nuclear radiation.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)17 of 19 
Suffering from congenital deformity, Mohan, 19, has six toe fingers. His father, a miner in the uranium mines, died of lung cancer.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)18 of 19 
Dasmati Kunti, of the Ho tribe, gives blessing to her two-year-old son, Babua, who died under unknown circumstances.(Image: Exclusivepix Media)http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/gallery/indias-nuclear-graveyard-haunting-images-10871818
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August 5, 2017 at 9:36 pm
The environmental degradation caused by mining uranium and nuclear reactions has affected the people of the area. The pictures reflect the damage to human life and sufferings of the poor. These are heart – wrenching pictures.
August 10, 2017 at 3:04 am
Such news stories have been appearing in press for the past several decades. The present story contains only pictures. When Mr Adrian Levy wrote an article on Jadugoda a few years ago, he also used some of these pictures. I responded to that article in Eurasia Review. The Asian Age reproduced that article. Here is the link:http://dailyasianage.com/news/7983/investigative-report-or-collection-of-horror-stories-unfounded-allegations-and-flawed-studies
An extract from my article:
“Since the 90s when unfounded allegations of adverse health effects due to radiation started appearing in news papers, Government of India set up specialist committees to verify the claims. Twenty-six specialists including specialist-physicians, scientists and academicians, many of them from outside the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) carried out three separate health surveys in Jaduguda. In one such health survey, medical teams examined over 3000 inhabitants from nearby villages. Specialists concluded that the alleged health effects are not caused by radiation. Their frequency in Jadugoda is the same as that elsewhere in the country with similar socio-economic parameters / conditions.”