Survivors of the 1984 Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal would appeal against the order of a New York district court, which dismissed their 1999 class action suit seeking damages.

Federal District Judge John Keenan dismissed the civil suit filed on behalf of the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy, which claimed thousands of lives, saying the company had sold all its shares in the plant and used the money to build a hospital in Bhopal.

This is the third time in 18 years that judge Keenan has rejected attempts by Union Carbide's Indian victims to seek redressal for the disaster and other related damages.

At least 500,000 people were believed to have been exposed to poisonous gases in 1984, several of who are still suffering the after-effects.