Bhopal Gas Tragedy 1984

In News 

• Recently, the nation paid tributes to the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy, termed as the world’s worst industrial disaster, on its 37th anniversary. 

About the Tragedy

• In the early hours of December 3, 1984, methylisocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from a plant operated by Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL)  at Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh). 
• The gas drifted over the densely populated neighbourhoods around the plant, killing thousands of people immediately and creating a panic as tens of thousands of others attempted to flee Bhopal. 
• The final death toll was estimated to be between 15,000 and 20,000. 
  • Some half a million survivors suffered respiratory problems, eye irritation or blindness, muscular dystrophy and other maladies resulting from exposure to the toxic gas.
• The study found out that babies born to women exposed to gas were significantly more likely to have “congenital malformations” than those born to women unexposed to gas.

Govt’s response to Bhopal tragedy

• The government passed the Bhopal Gas Leak Act in March 1985, which allowed it to act as the legal representative for victims.
  • The Supreme Court of India also laid down guidelines for the money — the family of the dead were to be given Rs 100,000-300,000.
    •  In addition, fully or partially disabled were to get Rs 50,000-500,000 and those with a temporary injury, Rs 25,000-100,000.
  • In June 2010, seven former employees of Union Carbide, who were all Indian nationals, were convicted of causing death by negligence and sentenced to two years of imprisonment. However, they were later released on bail.

Source: DTE