BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY

Union Carbide’s Bhopal Plant

Presentation byArti Dangi (PC-03)Dhaval Dudhat (PC-04)Dweep Chokshi (PC-06)Mihir Pandit (PC-09)Pavitra Ramkumar (PC-10)Prashant Shah (PC-12)Vipul Patil (PA-20)

Buch was removed to another post soon after

Union Carbide’s luxurious guest house (current photo)

Dec 26th, 1981, Phosgene gas leak kills Ashraf

Manufacturing of Methyl Isocyanate in UCIL commences(1980)

Hospitals under siege

Union Carbide deems the incident employee sabotage

Who do you think was responsible for the incident?

Solution

• Indian Government and UCC both were responsible

• Indian government - twisted laws – no infrastructure to back it

• UCC - cost cutting - neglected the safety of its employees and that of others.

Who should have had jurisdiction over this case? Was US Federal court right?

Solution

Jurisdiction with India- Inconvenience of witness and evidence- No US citizen present- Shared Jurisdiction not an option- Records and manuals in Hindi- No contract between UCC and UCIL.

What can we learn from this incident?

Current Status