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BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY(2-3 DEC 1984)

Which took the lives of 20,000 people

INTRODUCTION:

It is worst industrial catastrophe in India

UCIL(subsidiary of UCC) was built in 1969 to produce a pesticide Sevin

MIC(intermediate compound) production plant was added in 1979

It happened During the night of 2 -3 dec 1984 when water entered into a tanker containing 42 tons of MIC

PLANT PRODUCTION PROCESS:

Methylamine (1) reacts with phosgene (2) producing methyl isocyanate (3) which reacts with 1-naphthol (4) to yield carbaryl (5)

CAUSES:

According to one theory: Water leaked into tank from valves while

workers were cleaning the clogged pipe which is 400 feet above it

According to theory of UCC: Water was directly introduced into tank

intentionally by a worker via a missing pressure gauge

It resulted in exothermic reaction and finally to a explosion

FACTORS LEADING TO MAGNITUDE OF GAS LEAKING:

Storing MIC in large tanks and filling beyond recommended levels

Failure of several safety systems (due to poor maintenance)

Safety systems being switched off to save money—including the MIC tank refrigeration system which could have mitigated the disaster severity

OTHER FACTORS:

Use of a more dangerous pesticide manufacturing method for decreasing generation cost

Plant location close to a densely populated area

Plant management deficiencies like : lack of skilled operators, reduction of safety management. insufficient maintenance and inadequate emergency action plans.

CONTRIBUTION OF NEGLIGENCE :

UCIL didn’t maintained safety rules • A pipe leaked? Don't replace it• MIC workers needed more training?

They could do with less.• The MIC tank alarms had not worked

for four years.

The flare tower and the vent gas scrubber had been out of service for five months before the disaster.

To reduce energy costs, the refrigeration system was idle. The MIC was kept at 20 degrees Celsius, not the 4.5 degrees advised by the manual.

The steam boiler, intended to clean the pipes, was out of action for unknown reasons.

CONTRIBUTION OF NEGLIGENCE :

CONTRIBUTION OF NEGLIGENCE :

Carbon steel valves were used at the factory, even though they corrode when exposed to acid.

According to the operators the MIC tank pressure gauge had been malfunctioning for roughly a week

UCC admitted in their own investigation report that most of the safety systems were not functioning on the night of December 3, 1984.

UCIL plant after disaster

EFFECTS:

Estimated that Total deaths are about 20000 upto 20 years after disaster

It is estimated 100,000 to 200,000 people have permanent injuries.

Reported symptoms are eye problems , respiratory difficulties, immune and neurological disorders, cardiac failure secondary to lung injury, birth defects among children born to affected women.

DEAD BODIES OF VICTIMS OF THAT MASSACRE

POSTMORTEM REPORTS:

Early autopsy findings. A. Gross picture of lung showstypical cherry red discoloration;

b. Low power photomicrographshowing marked congestion and epithelial denudation of trachea;

c.Photomicrograph of lung parenchyma showing marked congestion andthickening of alveolar septa

SUPPORT OF INDIAN GOVT TO CULPRITS: Indian government closed plant to

outsiders and failed in making the data public

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) were forbidden to publish their data on health effects until after 1994

The Indian Government and UCC deny permanent injuries were caused by MIC

UCIL paid a token of $470 million even though asked a total compensation of $3.3billion.But the govt said nothing

The govt sent safely Mr. Anderson the CEO of UCIL at the time of massacre, to US

Civil and criminal cases are still pending in United States District Court, Manhattan and the District Court of Bhopal, India, involving UCC, UCIL employees, and Warren Anderson

CONCLUSION:

There are several other Industries till now working only for their profit, leaving the safety of people in it and around it in waters

The govt should take necessary steps to control these industries so that no other disaster occurs