Indian court orders compensation be paid to Bhopal victims

India's Supreme Court Monday ordered the government to pay over $327.5 million to victims and dependents of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster .  The money represents the remainder of Union Carbide's settlement with the Indian government, most of which was never distributed due to complications including verifying the identity of the claimants.  The court directed Bhopal's welfare commission to distribute the money to victims in proportion to injuries sustained or losses suffered.  Three thousand people died in the days immediately following the disaster at the Union Carbide pesticide plant. [more]