40 years of Bhopal Gas Tragedy | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    40 years of Bhopal Gas Tragedy

    Posted 02 Dec 2024

    2 min read

    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.

    Other Chemical Disasters in India

    • 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.

    Reasons for Chemical Disasters

    • 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.

    Impact of Chemical Disasters

    • 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.

    About Methyl Isocyanate (CH3NCO)

    • 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.

    Initiatives taken to tackle Chemical accidents

    • 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.
    • Tags :
    • Chemical Disaster
    • Bhopal Gas Tragedy
    • Industrial Disasters
    • Methyl Isocyanate (CH3NCO)
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