40 years of Bhopal Gas Tragedy

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About Bhopal Gas Tragedy

On 3rd December 1984, highly toxic Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from a pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL).
- Even after four decades of tragedy, hundreds of tonnes of toxic waste remain on premises of UCIL.
It was India's first major Chemical (industrial) disaster.

Ammonia Gas Leak at Chennai (2024): Due to damaged gas pipeline caused by cyclone Michaung.
Vizag Gas Leak (2020): Styrene gas leak at LG Polymers in Visakhapatnam.
Tughlakabad Gas Leak (2017): Chemical Chloro methylpyridine (used in pesticides manufacturing) leaked from container.

Process and safety systems failures due to Human, Technical, and Management errors; Induced effect of natural calamities; Hazardous waste processing/ disposal; Terrorist attack/ unrest leading to sabotage etc.

Health: Exposure to toxic chemicals can lead to reproductive health of women, respiratory issues, cancer, and genetic mutations.
Environmental: Soil, water, and air contamination, further disrupting ecosystems and biodiversity.
Crop health: Exposure to hazardous chemicals damages plant cells, inhibits photosynthesis, stunting growth, and decreased productivity.
Bioaccumulation: Released toxins can enter food chain, leading to bioaccumulation.

Volatile, colorless liquid that is extremely flammable, and potentially explosive when mixed with air.
Reacts with water, giving off heat and producing methylamine and carbon dioxide.
Liquid and vapor are toxic when inhaled, ingested, or exposed to the eyes or skin.

NDMA guidelines on Chemical Disaster Management: Inspection System by Regulatory Bodies, Establish Information networking system with states and districts on priority basis etc.
Explosives Act, 1884: To control manufacture, possession, use, transportation and importation of Explosives.
Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Response) Rules 1996.

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