BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY
Today is the 25th anniversary of the world’s biggest industrial disaster ‘Bhopal Gas Tragedy’. This worst tragedy was happened in ‘Union Carbide pesticide plant’ in the Indian city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on 3rd December 1984. More than 15000 people were died and many people were permanently incapable in this deadly accident. Though this tragic incident was happened in 25 years ago but its scars are still visible in Bhopal.
ABOUT THE TRAGEDY
The Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) is a subsidiary of the US-based Union Carbide Company. It is located in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and its main products are pesticide carbaryl and methyl isocyanate. On the midnight of 3rd December 1984, large amounts of water entered in tank 610 which contains 42 tonnes of methyl isocyanate of the Union Carbide India Limited’s pesticide plant . As a result, the temperature of the tank increased and the tank released a large amount of toxic gases containing methyl isocyanate .This poisonous gases spreaded in the city of Bhopal which caused great panic among the people. Thousands people were died immediately from the effects of the gas. Totally more than 15000 people were died and many people were permanently incapable in this deadly accident. Many people were still suffering syndromes like partial or complete blindness, gastrointestinal disorders, impaired immune systems, post traumatic stress disorders, and menstrual problems in women. A rise in spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and offspring with genetic defects were also occurred among the people of Bhopal. Union Carbide denied all allegations against it and it believed that the accident was the result of mischief. In addition they stated that their safety systems were better and operative. They also stressed that they did all it could lighten human suffering following the disaster. But the legal action is taken against Union Carbide and the Chairman and CEO of Union Carbide Warren Anderson was arrested and released on bail by the Madhya Pradesh Police. On bail, Anderson moved into United states. The Indian government summoned Warren Anderson and other eight executives to appear in Indian court. But Anderson and others did not appear in the court. Anderson is living in US very happily, but the scars of this terrible incident still haunt the people of Bhopal.