UNION CARBIDE AND BHOPAL:

DIARY OF A DISATER
PRESENTED BY: DEEPAK SRIVASTVA

THE BHOPAL DISASTER

Around 1 a.m. on Monday, the 3rd of December, 1984, a poisonous vapour burst from the tall stacks of the Union Carbide pesticide plant. This vapour was a highly toxic cloud of MIC. 2,000 people died immediately 300,000 people were injured 7,000 animals were injured, of which about one thousand were killed.

THE PLANT (UCIL)

Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) 51% owned by Union Carbide USA Built to produce Carbonyl Pesticide Very Successful In the initial part of Indias Green Revolution Initial staff - 1000

PLANT

HOW THE DISASTER HAPPENED?

Due to leaking 27 None of Regular

tons of the deadly gas MIC.

the six safety systems designed against this.

maintenance had fallen into disrepair that on the night of December 2nd, when an employee was flushing a corroded pipe, multiple stopcocks failed and allowed water to flow freely into the largest tank of MIC.

LEAKAGE OF GAS
A

tank containing methyl Isocyanate (MIC) leaked. MIC is an extremely reactive chemical.
The

scientific reason for the accident was that water entered the tank where about 40 cubic meters of MIC was stored. water and MIC mixed, an exothermic chemical reaction started, producing a lot of heat

When

 As

a result, the safety valve of the tank burst because of the increase in pressure. is presumed that between 20 and 30 tonnes of MIC were released during the hour that the leak took place. gas leaked from a 30 m high chimney and this height was not enough to reduce the effects of the discharge.

It

The

REASONS FOR THE DISASTER:

A

combination of human factors and an incorrectly designed safety system. portion of the safety equipment at the plant had been non-operational for four months and the rest failed.

 The

Madhya Pradesh State government had not mandated any safety standards. Carbide failed to implement its own safety rules.

Union The

Bhopal plant experienced six accidents between 1981 and 1984, at least three of which involved MIC or phosgene.

Improper design of chimneys (without consideration of weather conditions in all seasons) Improper design and maintenance of safety equipment. Not following safety regulations as that followed by UCC plants in USA. Decision to neglect a flare system in need of repair. Inadequate emergency planning and community awareness. Lack of awareness of the potential impact of MIC on the community by the people operating the plant. Inadequate community planning, allowing a large population to live near a hazardous manufacturing plant.

 Among

the 500,000 people exposed to the

gas:
20,000 have died till date y 120,000 continue to suffer
y

of every 3 children born after the Bhopal disaster, only 1 survived. Around 7,000 animals died as well Many children were born deformed and future generations continue to experience the horrible side effects.
Out

AT PRESENT

More than 20 years after the Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal,100,000 people in the city are still seriously ill and the drinking water. Further 20,000 has been poisoned by chemicals leaking from the abandoned plant. Union Carbide and its 100% owner Dow Chemical, refuse to clean their factory. Bhopal Medical Appeal began in Britain as a joint effort of ordinary individuals to bring free medical relief to the victims of the gas and water disasters. In April 2005 a new clinic was opened with the support of donations to help keep the clinic running.

REMEDIATION PROCESS
Bhopal

continues to suffer the environmental contamination produced by the release of MIC and medical/volunteer assistance has been provided to some of the victims and their families. Carbide accepted responsibility and agreed to a $470 million settlement

Donations

Union

PRESENT SITUATION OF UNION CARBIDE

After

the Bhopal Disaster, the company went out of business. They were bought by Dow Chemical in 1999 To this day, the Union Carbide location in Bhopal is not remediated. The plant still leaks toxic chemicals such as:
Mercury y Trichloroethane y Chlorinated organics y Lead
y

RESCUE AT BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY

Medical

staff were unprepared for the thousands of casualties. and hospitals were not informed of proper treatment methods for MIC gas inhalation. health groups set up JSK (the People's Health Centre) that was working a few years from 1985. the leak, a very large number of private practitioners have opened in Bhopal. In the severely affected areas, nearly 70% do not appear to be professionally qualified.

Doctors

Radical

Since

WHAT STEPS WERE TAKEN BY UCIL TO REMEDY THE BHOPAL ACCIDENT

After

the incident, UCIL began clean-up work at the site. the sale of UCIL stock in 1994, Eveready Industries continued clean-up work at the site until 1998. state government of Madhya Pradesh took over the facility in 1998 and assumed all responsibility for completing any further remediation.

After

The

LEGAL ACTIONS TAKEN BY INDIAN GOVT.

Files its action in the U.S, which charges UCC with death of 1700, and injury 200000 Invoke new legal claim multi enterprise liability

STEPS TAKEN BY GOVT. OF INDIA

Provide hospitals services:1.25 beds/ 1,000, compared to the recommendation from the World bank of 1.0 beds per 1,000 in developing countries. The Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) is a 350-bedded super speciality hospital. Sambhavna Trust is a charitable trust that registered in 1995. The clinic gives modern and ayurvedic treatments to gas victims, free of charge.

CONCLUSION

After 26 yrs of the disaster, the court declared 2yrs imprisonment to Warren Anderson. But he is not yet taken into custody.

SOMETHING WHICH IS STILL MATTER OF CONTROVERSIES:

Where should case be tried: in India or US? Who was at fault- parent company, UCC or Indian managers responsible for plants operation? What was the responsibility of Indian govt. to control activities of foreign company in India?