8/6/2019 Bhopal Gas Disaster and the Ploitics of Tragedy

1/1

BHOPAL GAS DISASTER AND THE PLOITICS OF TRAGEDY

y The Bhopal disaster is the world's worst industrial catastrophe. It occurred on thenight of December 23, 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide

plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. A leak of methyl isocyanides gas and other

chemicals from the plant resulted in the exposure of hundreds of thousands of people.

y THECAUSE FORTHE LEAK: - During the night of December 23, 1984, waterentered a tank containing 42 tons of MIC. The resulting exothermic reaction increased

the temperature inside the tank to over 200 C (392 F) and raised the pressure. The

tank vented releasing toxic gases into the atmosphere. The gases were blown by

northwesterly winds over Bhopal.

y FACTORS LEADING TO DISASTER: - Working conditions, equipments and safetyregulation previous warning and incidents

y EFFECTS OF GAS LEAK : - Thousands of people had succumbed by the morninghours. There were mass funerals and mass cremations as well as disposal of bodies in

the Narmada river. 170,000 people were treated at hospitals and temporarydispensaries. 2,000 buffalo, goats, and other animals were collected and buried.Within a few days, leaves on trees yellowed and fell off. Supplies, including food,

became scarce owing to suppliers' safety fears. Fishing was prohibited as well, whichcaused further supply shortages.A total of 36 wards were marked by the authorities as

being "gas affected", affecting a population of 520,000. Of these, 200,000 were below15 years of age, and 3,000 were pregnant women. In 1991, 3,928 deaths had beencertified. Independent organizations recorded 8,000 dead in the first days. Otherestimations vary between 10,000 and 30,000. Another 100,000 to 200,000 people areestimated to have permanent injuries of different degrees

y The Bhopal gas leak was more than a criminal negligence it was culpable homicideunder the Indian Penal Code. That would have amounted to ten years of rigorous

imprisonment for the eight of them who have been offered a meagre two-year custody all of them were granted bail immediately in exchange of Rs 25000 (500$ roughly).

y Rajiv Gandhi the prime minister aided Warren Anderson, the chairman of UnionCarbide group, the prime accused in the disaster that exterminated the heart of India,

personally, as Anderson was flown off to USA