DECEMBER 3, 1984 BHOPAL DISASTER DAY

 DECEMBER 3, 1984 BHOPAL DISASTER DAY

TOXIC CHEMICAL RELEASE FROM A CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING PLANT.

WHERE

 

UNION CARBIDE INDIA LIMITED (UCIL)

STARTED IN 1979 – TO MANUFACTURE CHEMICALS  -

CHEMICAL PESTICIDE SEVIN [ CARBORYL]  IS HIGHLY TOXIC, NEEDS GLOVES AND OTHER SAFETY GEAR WHILE HANDLING - 

CHEMICAL PROCESS IN MANUFACTURING CARBORYL USED MIC [METHYL-ISO-CYANATE]  

WHAT HAPPENED

MIDNIGHT OF DECEMBER 2nd, 1984 - 

LEAKAGE FROM THE CHEMICAL STORAGE TANK OF METHYL-ISOCYNATE - MIC GAS IS DEADLY TOXIC EVEN IN SMALL QUANTITIES - 

40 Tons (1 ton = 1000 kgs) OF THIS GAS CAME OUT.

THIS COMPANY's PLANT WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BHOPAL CITY (AND NEXT TO RAILWAY STATION) - 

BHOPAL- CAPITAL OF MADHYA PRADESH. POPULATION 9 LAKH THEN – 

EFFECTS

EYES AND SKIN IRRITATION - 

LUNGS AFFECTED - 

MANY BLINDED - 

TOTAL OF 5 LAKH PERSONS WERE EXPOSED - 

IMMEDIATE DEATH – 3000

DEATH WITHIN 2 WEEKS – 8000

THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS (CATTLE, DOGS, CATS, BIRDS, MANY DOMESTIC ANIMALS)

HEALTH PROBLEMS – ESTIMATED  50000 PERSONS

CHILDREN BORN WITH DEFECTS

PERSONS EXPOSED AND ALSO CHILDREN BORN TO THEM SUFFERING EVEN TODAY  -    30 YEARS AFTER THE ACCIDENT

POINTS TO REMEMBER

MOST OF THE CHEMICALS ARE TOXIC. SOME ARE HIGHLY TOXIC AND DANGEROUS

CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS ARE HARMFUL. AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES ARE MUCH MORE HARMFUL

ANY CHEMICAL USE SHOULD BE PROPER AND CAREFUL- WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

CHEMICAL FACTORIES NEED EXCELLENT PLANNING, DESIGN AND DAY- TO- DAY OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

ANY ACCIDENT EVEN  MINOR ONES CAN BE HARMFUL

IN THE CASE OF MIC GAS AND CARBORYL [SEVIN PESTICIDE] NO NEW SCIENTIFIC DATA WAS NECESSARY. THEIR TOXICITY AND DANGER WERE WELL KNOWN

BEFORE THE ACCIDENT  PRECAUTIONS  WERE NOT TAKEN

AFTER THE ACCIDENT NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR THE GOVERNMENT TOOK ANY PROPER ACTIONS

MORAL

USE  CHEMICALS ONLY WHEN IT IS NECESSARY.

TOXIC ONES ARE BETTER AVOIDED

OR USED VERY CAREFULLY

LOCATION OF THE CHEMICAL FACTORIES MUST BE FAR AWAY FROM POPULATED PLACES.

THIS COMES FROM

SETHU BANDHANA TRUST (R)

Ph. No. 87627-89139

email: advmysore@gmail.com