BHOPAL DISASTER

On December 3, 1984, a Union Carbide Corporation plant in Bhopal leaked 32 tons of toxic methyl isocyanate gas, leading to the Bhopal disaster. The official death toll of this disaster was about 5,000 initially. A more probable figure is that 18,000 died within two weeks, and it is estimated that an additional 8,000 have since died from gas-poisoning-related diseases.^[10] The Greenpeace organization cites a total casualty figure of 20,000 as its own conservative estimate.^[11] The Bhopal disaster is often cited as the world's worst industrial disaster.^[10][12][13] December 3rd is observed as an annual day of mourning for this disaster, and each year, all of the government offices in Bhopal are closed on this day.

The Union Carbide India, Ltd., (UCIL) plant was established in 1969 in East Bhopal City. 51% of it was owned by Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) and 49% by Indian authorities, although UCC was responsible for all techniques and designs. It produced the pesticide carbaryl (trade mark Sevin). Methyl isocyanate (MIC), an intermediate in carbaryl manufacture, was also used, and in 1979 a plant for producing MIC was added to the site.^[10]

During the night of December 3, 1984, large amounts of water entered the chemical storage tank E610, which contained 426 tonnes of methyl isocyanate. The resulting reaction generated a major increase in the temperature of liquid inside the tank to over 200° C (400° F). The MIC holding tank then gave off a large volume of mixed toxic gases, forcing the emergency release of pressure. The reaction was sped up by the presence of iron from the corrosion of non-stainless steel pipelines. Massive panic resulted as people woke up in a cloud of noxious gasses that burned their lungs. About nine thousand people died immediately from the gasses, and many more were trampled by others who were fleeing.^[10]

Theories for how the water entered the chemical storage tank differ. At the time, workers at the plant were cleaning out some chemical pipes with water, and some authorities claim that because of bad maintenance and leaking valves, it was possible for the water to leak into the tank E610. The Union Carbide Corp. maintains that this was not possible, and that the disaster was an act of sabotage by a "disgruntled worker" who introduced water directly into the tank. Much speculation arose in the aftermath, since the government of India and the Union Carbide Corp. did not release the results of their own investigations.^[10]

The deciding factors that contributed to the disaster included

• The chemical plant's poorly-chosen location -- located near a densely populated west city area, instead of the other side of Bhopal City where the company had been offered land.
• Using hazardous ingredient chemicals (methyl isocyanate) instead of less dangerous ones
• Storing these chemicals in large tanks instead of several smaller storage tanks.
• Possible corrosion of the metals in the pipelines
• Poor maintenance at the chemical plant
• Failure of several safety systems -- due to poor maintenance and regulations
• Deficient staffing policies, such as in the number of employees hired and their training for working with dangerous chemicals.
• Negligence on the part of the Union Carbide Corp. and the Governments of India and the state of Madhya Pradesh.