New Delhi: It’s been 40 years since the Bhopal Gas tragedy has occurred. The tragedy remains one of the worst industrial disasters in history. The incident happened on December 2-3, 1984. The disaster killed several thousands and a lot of health problems were left behind. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy is a grim reminder of the catastrophic potential of industrial accidents.
In this article, let us look back at what happened on December 2-3, 1984, that shook India and the world.
The Night of December 2, 1984: The Bhopal Gas Leak
On the night of December 2, 1984, a chemical – methyl isocyanate (MIC) leaked out from Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL)’s pesticide factory. It turned the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, into a gas chamber. This was the first major industrial disaster in India. More than 15,000 people were killed and 60,000 workers were affected after 30 tonnes of methyl isocyanate gas leaked.
Was there any warning before the tragedy?
In 1969, the UCIL factory started making Sevin, a pesticide, using methyl isocyanate as a key ingredient. In 1976, trade unions in Bhopal raised concerns about pollution in the plant. A few years later, a worker died after inhaling a large amount of toxic phosgene gas. Two years before the tragedy, around 45 workers exposed to phosgene went to the hospital. Between 1983 and 1984, there were leaks of phosgene, carbon tetrachloride, methyl isocyanate, and mono methylamine.
How did the leak happen?
Union Carbide’s Bhopal facility stored liquid methyl isocyanate (MIC) in three 68,000-litre tanks: E610, E611, and E619. In the months leading up to the disaster, the plant was producing MIC and filling the tanks. Each tank was supposed to hold no more than 50 per cent of its capacity, and they were pressurised with nitrogen gas to allow for pumping out the liquid.
However, tank E610 could no longer hold nitrogen gas pressure, so it could not release the liquid MIC. Each tank was meant to contain a maximum of 30 tonnes of MIC, but this tank had 42 tonnes. Because of this issue, Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) had to stop MIC production and partially shut the plant for maintenance.
An attempt to fix the faulty tank was made on December 1, but it did not work. By that time, many safety systems related to MIC at the plant were not working properly. On the evening of December 2, water entered the defective tank, leading to a dangerous chemical reaction. The pressure inside the tank increased five times by night. By midnight, workers in the area began to feel the effects of MIC gas. The decision to fix the leak was delayed by a few minutes, but by then, the chemical reaction was out of control.
Approximately 30 tonnes of MIC leaked into the atmosphere within an hour. Most residents in Bhopal learned about the gas leak through exposure to the gas itself.
Understanding Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) and its Dangers
Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) is a clear liquid used to make pesticides. It is safe when handled correctly. However, MIC reacts strongly to heat. When it comes into contact with water, it can cause a heat reaction.
MIC is no longer produced but is still found in some pesticides. The Bayer CropScience plant in Institute, West Virginia, is currently the only place in the world that stores MIC.
Long-Term Health Consequences and Ongoing Impacts
Immediate health effects from MIC exposure can include stomach ulcers, sensitivity to light, breathing problems, loss of appetite, ongoing stomach pain, genetic issues, anxiety, and trouble with memory and reasoning.
Long-term health effects may include chronic eye inflammation, reduced lung function, higher chances of losing a pregnancy, increased infant deaths, more chromosomal abnormalities, and difficulties in learning.
Forty years after the devastating Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the world remembers the catastrophic consequences of the Union Carbide methyl isocyanate (MIC) leak. The incident, occurring on December 2-3, 1984, resulted in thousands of deaths and long-term health problems for countless others. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
