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Bhopal Gas Tragedy : Causes,

effects and aftermath
The Bhopal gas tragedy occurred at
midnight of December 2nd- 3rd
December 1984 at the Union Carbide
India Ltd (UCIL) pesticide facility in
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. This
catastrophe affected around 500,000
people along with many animals. People
who were exposed are still suffering as
a result of the gas leak’s long-term
health impacts. Chronic eye difficulties
and respiratory problems were some
issues due to it. Children who have
been exposed have stunted growth and
cognitive impairments.

Table of Content

Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Background
Bhopal Gas Tragedy Case Study
Causes of Bhopal Gas Tragedy
Effects of Bhopal Gas Tragedy
Aftermath of Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Union Carbide was an American
company that produced pesticides. MIC
– methyl isocyanide, a dangerous
poisonous gas began to leak at midnight
on 2nd December 1984 from the Union
Carbide factory. This MIC caused the
Bhopal gas tragedy. The Bhopal gas
tragedy was a fatal accident. It was one
of the world’s worst industrial accidents.

Date of Bhopal 3rd December

Gas Tragedy 1984

Union Carbide
Company Name
India Limited

Bhopal, Madhya
Location
Pradesh, India

MIC (Methyl
Gas Leaked
Isocyanate)

Background
UCIL was a pesticide manufacturing
plant that produced the insecticide
carbaryl. Carbaryl was discovered by
the American company Union Carbide
Corporation, which owned a significant
share in UCIL. As an intermediary, UCIL
produced carbaryl using methyl
isocyanate (MIC). Other techniques for
producing the ultimate product are
available, but they are more expensive.
The very toxic chemical MIC is
extremely dangerous to human health.
Residents of Bhopal in the area of the
pesticide plant began to feel irritated by
the MIC and began fleeing the city.

Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Case Study
Bhopal UCIL constructed three
underground MIC storage tanks which
were named E610, E611, and E619. On
October 1984, E610 was not able to
maintain its nitrogen gas pressure and
so the liquid which is present inside the
tank would not pump out, because of
which 42 tons of MIC in E610 was
wasted. The chemical in E610 was left
unpumped as they were not able to re-
establish its pressure, which later
became responsible for Bhopal Gas
Tragedy.

Causes of Bhopal Gas

Tragedy
The main causes of Bhopal Gas
Tragedy are as follows:

1. During the buildup to the spill, the

plant’s safety mechanisms for the
highly toxic MIC were not working.
The alarm off tanks of the plant had
not worked properly.
2. Many valves and lines were in
disrepair, and many vent gas
scrubbers were not working, as was
the steam boiler that was supposed to
clean the pipes.
3. The MIC was stored in three tanks,
with tank E610 being the source of
the leak. This tank should have held
no more than 30 tonnes of MIC,
according to safety regulations.
4. Water is believed to have entered the
tank through a side pipe as
technicians were attempting to clear it
late that fatal night.
5. This resulted in an exothermic
reaction in the tank, progressively
raising the pressure until the gas was
ejected through the atmosphere.

Effects of Bhopal Gas

Tragedy
The main effects of the Bhopal Gas
Tragedy are as follows:

1. Thousands had died as a result of

choking, pulmonary edema, and
reflexogenic circulatory collapse.
2. Neonatal death rates increased by
200 percent.
3. A huge number of animal carcasses
have been discovered in the area,
indicating the impact on flora and
animals. The trees died after a few
days. Food supplies have grown
scarce due to the fear of
contamination.
4. Fishing was also prohibited.
5. In March 1985, the Indian government
established the Bhopal Gas Leak
Accident Act, giving it legal authority
to represent all victims of the
accident, whether they were in India
or abroad.
6. At least 200,000 youngsters were
exposed to the gas.
7. Hospitals were overcrowded, and
there was no sufficient training for
medical workers to deal with MIC
exposure.

Aftermath of Bhopal Gas

Tragedy
In the United States, UCC was sued in
federal court. In one action, the court
recommended that UCC pay between
$5 million and $10 million to assist the
victims. UCC agreed to pay a $5 million
settlement. The Indian government,
however, rejected this offer and claimed
$3.3 billion. In 1989, UCC agreed to pay
$470 million in damages and paid the
cash immediately in an out-of-court
settlement.

Warren Anderson, the CEO and

Chairman of UCC was charged with
manslaughter by Bhopal authorities in
1991. He refused to appear in court and
the Bhopal court declared him a fugitive
from justice in February 1992. Despite
the central government’s efforts in the
United States to extradite Anderson,
nothing happened. Anderson died in
2014 without ever appearing in a court
of law.

Conclusion
Bhopal Gas Tragedy continues to be an
important warning sign for
industrialization, for developing
countries and in particular India, with
human, environmental, and economic
pitfalls. The economy of India is growing
at a fast rate but at the cost of
environmental health as well as public
safety.

Frequently Asked
Questions
What were the reasons behind
Bhopal gas tragedy?

The reasons behind Bhopal gas

tragedy was a large volume of
water had been introduced into the
MIC tank and has caused a
chemical reaction which did force
the pressure release valve, which
allowed the gas to leak.

What is the name of Bhopal gas

case law?

The name is Union Carbide

Corporation v.

Which gas was leaked in the

Bhopal Gas Tragedy?

The gas which was leaked in the

Bhopal Gas Tragedy is methyl
isocyanate.

Was Bhopal gas tragedy an

accident or experiment?

Bhopal gas tragedy was the world’s

most worst industrial accident.

How many people died in the

Bhopal Gas?

A total of 3,787 deaths were

registered related to the gas
release in case of Bhopal Gas
Tragedy.

What were the four main

demands of the Bhopal Gas
victims?

The 4 demands of Bhopal Gas

victims include:

1. Proper medical treatment.

2. Adequate compensation.
3. Fixation of criminal responsibility
4. Steps for prevention of such
disasters in future.

How was Bhopal Gas Tragedy

fixed?

Bhopal Gas Tragedy was fixed with

construction of a secure landfill for
holding the wastes from the two on-
site solar evaporation ponds.

Article Tags : Class 8 School Learning

School Polity Political Science-Class-8

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