34 Years After the World's Worst Industrial Disaster

People take part in candle march on anniversary of Bhopal Gas Tragedy

   As Bhopal gas Tragedy marks 34 years today, the 3rd generation born after the disaster is still suffering from ailments. In this article we are going to answer the questions such as:

• What is Bhopal Gas Tragedy?

• How did it happened ?

• Why did it happen?

• What were its consequences?

• After 34 years...

UCIL FACTORY at which the tragedy took place. Bhopal, India

What is Bhopal Gas Tragedy?
   
   Bhopal Gas Tragedy is the worlds worst industrial disaster that took place at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India on 2-3rd of December, 1984 due to leaking of Methyl Iso Cyanate from the Union Carbide India Limited(UCIL) factory, an Indian subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC).

   As the factory was situated in the middle of the city, more than 3,500 deaths have been reported due to incident and at least 5,58,125 non fatal injuries occurred. The immediate death toll was 2259 but the government confirmed a total of 3,787 deaths related to gas leakage.

How did it happened?
    
   The tank E610, from which the gas was leaked, had lost its ability to effectively contain the nitrogen gas pressure due to filling of liquid MIC more than UCC standards of 50%(here 30 tons).Each of the tanks was pressurized with inert nitrogen gas which helped to pump out MIC as required.

    Due to the failure of the tank, the 40 ton MIC couldn't be pumped out. This lead the production to stop and go for maintenance. It include shutting down of flare tower and so that the corroded pipe could be exchanged. On the day of disaster, most of the safety systems were malfunctioning and the carbon valves were in bad condition. The vents gas scrubbers and the steam boiler were intended to clean the pipes was out of service. So during the cleaning, the water entered the tank E610 containing 42 tons of Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC) leading to an exothermic reaction inside the tank an increasing the pressure which lead to a blast.This lead to release of MIC towards the south-eastern part of Bhopal city in which the factory was situated leading to the world’s worst industrial disaster.

Why did it happened?

  

•  A refrigeration system meant to cool tanks containing liquid MIC, shut down in January 1982, and whose Freon had been removed in June 1984. Since the MIC storage system assumed refrigeration, its high temperature alarm, set to sound at 11 °C (52 °F) had long since been disconnected, and tank storage temperatures ranged between 15 °C (59 °F) and 40 °C (104 °F)

• A flare tower, to burn the MIC gas as it escaped, which had had a connecting pipe removed for maintenance, and was improperly sized to neutralize a leak of the size produced by tank E610.

• A vent gas scrubber, which had been deactivated at the time and was in 'standby' mode, and similarly had insufficient caustic soda and power to safely stop a leak of the magnitude produced.

What were its consequences?

   The result or consequences of the disaster was a nightmare that still has no end, residents awoke to clouds of suffocating gas and began running desperately through the dark streets, victims arrived at hospitals; breathless and blind. The lungs, brain, eyes, muscles as well as gastro -intestinal, neurological, reproductive and immune systems of those who survived were severely affected. 
     
    When the sun rose the next morning, the magnitude of devastation was clear. Dead bodies of humans and animals blocked the street, leaves turned black and a smell of burning chili peppers lingered in the air. An estimated 10,000 or more people died.  About 500,000 more people suffered agonizing injuries with disastrous effects of the massive poisoning. 

After 34 years....

    34 years after the Bhopal gas tragedy, survivors continue to demand proper rehabilitation and adequate compensation besides proper medical treatment for ailments caused by the toxic leak.

Survivors of Bhopal Gas Tragedy along with NGOs  during a protest rally

    Various organisations fighting for gas leak survivors have been seeking proper medical care, adequate compensation and cleaning of the groundwater and soil which became contaminated after the incident.

    "Recent scientific studies show that deaths and diseases attributable to exposure to Union Carbide's gases continue to occur in Bhopal. Yet, over 80 per cent of the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee for medical rehabilitation of victims remain to be implemented", said Rachana Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information.

    

   Thus even after 34 years of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, some questions still remain unsolved. It is the world’s worst industrial disaster till date. The memories of the day still continue to horrify the people of Bhopal. Our prayers are with the people of Bhopal. 

    Thank You for reading.