A mixed method study on simulation based experiential learning through Bhopal Gas Tragedy for disaster risk reduction among health science students

The 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy remains one of the deadliest industrial disasters in human history, killing thousands instantly and exposing over half a million people to the toxic methyl isocyanate gas. Despite its profound lessons for emergency response, inter-agency coordination, and public health preparedness, a few educational interventions have leveraged this catastrophe as a teaching case for health professionals. We designed, implemented, and evaluated a comprehensive simulation-based educational intervention that recreates key aspects of the Bhopal disaster to prepare the students for disaster risk preparedness in complex emergency scenarios requiring multi-sectoral coordination. We engaged 59 students from two institutions in a five-station simulation exercise. Twenty-two Master of Public Health students served as facilitators following intensive training, while 37 undergraduate Allied Health Sciences students participated as learners. The simulation included personification exercises, role-play scenarios, pre-hospital emergency care, hospital surge management, and multi-sectoral policy response stations. We measured learning outcomes using 15-item pre-post assessments and gathered qualitative feedback through open-ended questions. There was a significant improvement ( p < 0.001) in the competencies measured. The overall mean score for different learning aspects increased from 44.8 at baseline to 61.6 (a 37.4% gain) after the intervention. Qualitative analysis revealed four major themes: nearly all participants (96.6%) valued the experiential learning approach, while most recognized gains in systems thinking (93.2%), empathy (89.8%), and critical problem-solving (81.4%) skills. Both facilitators and participants rated the experience highly satisfying (mean scores 4.4–4.8 on 5-point scales). The study demonstrates that well-planned, historically grounded simulation exercises can powerfully enhance disaster preparedness education among health science students.