Kendy Mancera Muiz

Jos Orduo Rojas

BHOPAL DISASTER

The Bhopal disaster, which occurred on December 3, 1984 in the region of Bhopal
(India), originated the ownership of 51% of the US company Union Carbide (part of
a leak of methyl isocyanate produced in a pesticide factory whose assets were later
acquired by Dow Chemical) and the remaining 49%, the government of India.
Research
There are different theories that emerge from research conducted by the same
company and justice. One of them says that the accident was caused by not taking
proper precautions during cleaning and maintenance of the plant , which caused the
water pressure used , sodium chloride crystals , metal debris and other impurities
that it dragged , to come into contact with the stored gas , initiating an exothermic
reaction which caused the opening overpressure of the safety valves of tanks and
thus the release into the atmosphere of toxic gas; with the aggravating circumstance
that the cooling system tanks and the catalyst prior to departure to the atmosphere
gases, had been disabled by cost savings.

Upon contact with the atmosphere, the compound released began to decompose in
several very toxic gas (phosgene, methylamine, caustic soda and especially
hydrocyanic acid, also known as prussic acid or hydrogen cyanide) which formed a
lethal cloud , being denser gases that formed the atmospheric air at ground toured
throughout the city. Thousands of people and living things died almost immediately
suffocated by the toxic cloud and many others died in accidents while trying to
escape from it during the desperate and chaotic evacuation of the city.
Effects
It is estimated that 6,000 to 8,000 people died in the first week after the toxic leak
and at least 12,000 subsequently died as a direct result of the disaster, which
affected more than 600,000 people, 150,000 of whom suffered serious
consequences. In addition, thousands also perished livestock and pets and the
whole environment of the place of accident remained seriously polluted by toxic and

Kendy Mancera Muiz

Jos Orduo Rojas

Heavy metals that take many years to disappear substances. The chemical plant
was abandoned after the accident. Union Carbide reached an agreement with Indian
state and paid $ 470 million for damages which were insufficient because the Asian
State a share stood and what was left barely been able to cover medical expenses
for a few of the sick.
Lawsuits
On June 7, 2010, the Indian court trying this disaster sentenced eight directors of
the company to two years in prison and to pay 500,000 rupees ($ 10,600 / 8,900
euros) to the delegation of the company in India.

Kendy Mancera Muiz

Jos Orduo Rojas

QUESTIONS
On what date the Bhopal tragedy happened?

In the first week, how many people died?

How much was the sentence that was given to the owners of the Bhopal plant?