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Occurrence: 3rd December 1984.

Place of occurrence: Union Carbide India

Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

Company: Union Carbide Corporation (UCC).

Chemicals:Methyl Isocyanate (CH3NCO- 42 tons)

Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN)

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Phosgene (COCl2)Hydrogen chloride (HCl)

Monomethyl amine (MMA)

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

The Catastrophe

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Among the 5,00,000 people exposed to the gas.20,000 people died till date.

A government affidavit in 2006 stated the leak caused 558,125

injuries including 38,478 temporary-partial and approximately

3,900 severely and permanently disabling injuries.

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Union Carbide Corporation

Bhopal Scenario

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Started in 1969 in Bhopal UCIL was the Indiansubsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), with

Indian Government controlled banks and the Indian

public holding a 49.1 per cent stake.

In 1994, the Supreme Court of India allowed UCC tosell its 50.9% share of UCIL to Eveready Industries

India Limited.

The Bhopal plant (UCIL) was later sold to McLeod

Russell (India) Ltd.

Dow Chemical Company purchased UCC in 2001.

Union Carbide Corporation

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Toxic Materials in Soil and Water

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Gas Vent Scrubber Gas Vent Scrubber Stack

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Effects on Health

The gas cloud was composed mainly of materials denser than the

surrounding air. The initial effects of exposure were coughing,

vomiting, severe eye irritation and a feeling of suffocation.

Respiratory Disorders Irritation to the lungs, causing coughing

and/or shortness of breathing. Higher exposure caused build up of

fluids (pulmonary edema). Caused Asthama.

Cancer Hazard Caused mutation (genetic changes). It caused

cancer.

Reproductive Hazard female reproductive difficulties and birth

defects among children born to affected women..

The causes of deaths were choking, reflexogenic circulatory

collapse and pulmonary oedema. Findings during autopsies revealed

changes not only in the lungs but also cerebral oedema, tubular

necrosis of the kidneys etc.

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Animal Slaughter

2,000 buffalo, goats, and other animals were collected andburied.

Within a few days, leaves on trees yellowed and fell off.

UCC's laboratory tests in 1989 revealed that soil and water

samples were toxic to fish.

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S.No Chemical Amount Use in factory Nature of original pollution

1 Methylene Chloride 100 MT Solvent Air

2 Methanol 50 MT Solvent Air

3 Ortho-idichlorobenzene 500 MT Solvent Air, Water, Soil

4 Carbon tetrachloride 500 MT Solvent Air

5 Chloroform 300 MT Solvent Air

6 Tri methylamine 50 MT Catalyst Air

7 Chloro benzyl chloride 10 MT Ingredient Air, Water, Soil

8 Mono chloro toluene 10 MT Ingredient Air, Water, Soil

9 Toluene 20 MT Ingredient Air, Water, Soil

10 Aldicarb 2 MT Product Air, Water, Soil

11 Carbaryl 50 MT Product Air, Water, Soil

12 Benzene Hexachloride 5 MT Ingredient Air, Water, Soil

13 Mercury 1 MT Water, Soil

14 Mono methyl amine 25 MT Ingredient Air

15 Chlorine 20 MT Ingredient Air

16 Phosgene 5 MT Ingredient Air

17 Hydro chloric acid 50 MT Ingredient Air, Soil

18 Chloro sulphonic acid 50 MT Ingredient Air, Soil

19 Alpha Naphthol * 50 MT Ingredient Air, Soil

20 Napthalin 50 MT Ingredient Air

21 Chemical waste Tar 50 MT Waste Water, Soil

22 Methyl Isocyanate 5 MT Ingredient Air, Water, Soil

Chemicals Dumped by Union Carbide in Bhopal

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The Government of India passed the Bhopal Gas LeakDisaster Act in March,1985 that gave the government rights

to represent all victims in or outside India.

In 1991, the local Bhopal authorities charged Anderson with

manslaughter.

He was declared a fugitive from justice by the Chief JudicialMagistrate of Bhopal on February 1, 1992, for failing to

appear at the court hearings in a culpable homicide case.

Legal

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In June 2010, seven former employees of the Union Carbide

subsidiary who were accused got charged with

IPC Sections 304-A (causing death by negligence),

304-II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder),

336, 337 and 338 (gross negligence)

Punishment up to 2 years of jail and Rs.5,000 as fine.

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Relief measures commenced in 1985 when food was distributed fora short period and ration cards were distributed. Widow pension of

the rate of Rs 200/per month (later Rs 750) was provided.

The final compensation for personal injury was for the majority Rs

25,000 (US$ 830). For death claim, the average sum paid out wasRs 62,000 (US$ 2,058).

Total compensation awarded was Rs.1,546.47 crores.

Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) was

inaugurated in 1998. It was obliged to give free care for survivorsfor eight years.

On June 24, 2010 the Union Cabinet of the Government of

India approved a Rs1265cr aid package.

Relief

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Today is probably the saddest day for the justice system ofIndia... after 25 years when the gas tragedy happened in Bhopal,

the verdict comes... 2yrs imprisonment, 5000 fine for 8 people,

CEO of the company absconding... this is d justice that the

25000 people who died in that tragedy get... shame on u INDIA

Who is responsible for this failure of the system, is it the

judiciary, who delivered the justice or the legislature who framed

the law and system or the executive who operated thesystem???

opinions

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Be the change that you want to see in the world

Quote of the moment

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Thank you