A book that focuses on some relatively unpublicised aspects of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, like its impact on expectant mothers of that time and the plight of women, who were rendered widows was released.

The book titled Sawal Aaj Bhi Jinda Hai, written by noted writer Swati Tiwari, was unveiled here last night. Senior IAS officer and Principal Secretary to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Manoj Shrivastava released the book.

Shrivastava's house was situated about 1.5 km away from the Union Carbide Plant at the time of the disaster, was also a victim of the gas tragedy that occurred on the intervening nights of December 2 and 3, 1984.

"The tragedy always reminds us that the offenders are yet to be punished and therefore we need to look at our system seriously," Shrivastava said.

The book highlights the pain and agony the womenfolk suffered and continue to suffer for no fault of theirs. Nobody cared to look into the grave injustice caused to women, some of whom were deprived of their right of motherhood forever.

The book also questioned the mindset of the people, who were at the helm of affairs at that time, as they created a Vidhwa Colony (Widow Colony) after the disaster to rehabilitate those women who lost their husbands.

However, the colony was later renamed by the State Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as 'Jeevan Jyoti Colony' but by that time the damage has already been done, the book said.