BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY

INTRODUCTION

Worst Industrial Disaster of its time.

Gas leak incident in India,

Worlds worst Industrial Catastrophes

Occurred on:- 3rd December 1984

At Union Carbide Corporation Ltd. a pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Chemical:-Leak of Methyl Isocyanate(40 tons)gas & other chemicals from the plant

People Affected:->5,00,000

People Died:- ~40,000

UNION CARBIDE INDIA LIMITED

• Indian subsidiary of UCC with Indian Government controlled Banks & the Indian public holding a 49.1% stake.

• Started in 1969 at the Northern state of India

• Phosgene, Monomethylamine, Methyl Isocyanate(MIC) & pesticide Carbaryl also known as Sevin were manufactured here.

CAUSESAccording One Theory:

• Water leaked into tank from valves while workers were cleaning the clogged pipe which is 400 feet above it.

According to theory of UCC:

• Water was directly introduced into tank intentionally by a worker via missing pressure gauge

• Resulted in Exothermic reaction & finally to explosion.

Other Causes:

• Use of more dangerous pesticide method for decreasing generation cost.

• Plant location close to a densely populated area.

Plant management deficiencies:

• Lack of skilled operator

• Reduction of safety management

• Insufficient maintenance & inadequate emergency action plans.

EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH• Respiratory Disorders

• Cancer Hazards

• Reproductive Hazard

• After Effect:

• Estimated total Deaths are about 20,000 upto 20 years after disaster

• Estimated 1,00,000 to 2,00,000 people

• Reported symptoms:-Eye problems, respiratory difficulties, immune & neurological disorders, Cardiac Failure secondary to lung injury, birth defects among children born to affected woman

COMPENSATION & LEGAL ASPECTS• Compensation $470 Million($500 per

dead)

• 20 years of passiveness

• Case was reviewed & put up in American Court

• Indian Government closed plant for outsiders

• DOW refused Union Carbide’s liabilities

• In order to provide safe drinking water to the population around the UCIL Factory, Government of MP presented a scheme for improvement of water supply

• Supreme Court directed the UCC & M. P. government to take immediate steps to disposal of toxic waste lying around & inside factory