The disaster, the horror and the night the world will never forget.
Before the Chernobyl we saw the devastating Bhopal incident, costing 15000+ people their lives. Was it nature? No, it was man made, and all because of the reckless decisions some top management made for the so called “Profit.”
That’s a whole city wiped out in one night… and did the world take a lesson from these terrible incidents? I don’t think so, but that’s what I’ll cover in other posts. This post is to go from the very beginning to the end of the Bhopal disaster and I’ll link out the sources in the end.
The Reason of Disaster
The gas MIC, the silent killer. It’s when you inhale it, you die!
Here’s what happens: it burns your lungs, blocks your airways, and shuts your body down. You choke. You collapse. You die.
And this disaster? It was avoidable.
- Safety systems meant to stop leaks? Turned off.
- Alarms that could have warned people? Disabled.
- Tanks storing the gas? Overfilled beyond safe limits.
- The entire plant? Falling apart due to poor maintenance.
It all started with Tank 610. Water leaked in, triggering a violent chemical reaction. The pressure inside the tank skyrocketed.
Then it happened.
The tank burst. Toxic MIC gas shot into the air.
The gas cloud spread across Bhopal. Fast and unstoppable. People were asleep, unaware. Within minutes, they woke up gasping for breath. Eyes burning. Lungs on fire.
Families ran for their lives, but there was nowhere to go. Streets filled with the injured, the dying, and the dead.
Now, that you know the reason why the Bhopal stopped breathing that night, let me now cover the incident in a more timeline way.
Where It Started
The Union Carbide pesticide plant, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. A massive facility built in the 1970s to produce Sevin, a pesticide in high demand. Initially, the plant imported Methyl Isocyanate (MIC), a highly toxic gas essential for Sevin production. However, in 1979, UCIL added an MIC production unit on-site to reduce costs.
This decision led to the storage of large quantities of MIC within the plant, increasing the risk of a catastrophic leak. The plant’s location, near densely populated areas, further amplified the potential for disaster.
The Negligence That Set It Up
In the early 1980s, Union Carbide’s profits were falling. To cut costs, they slashed the workforce by 335 employees, saving $1.25 million in 1983. An executive team from Union Carbide’s headquarters in Danbury, Connecticut, known as the “Bhopal Task Force,” led these cost-cutting measures.
- Safety protocols? Ignored.
- Routine maintenance? Delayed.
Critical safety systems like the vent gas scrubber and flare tower (meant to neutralize gas leaks) were shut down to save money.
By December 2, 1984, the stage was set for disaster.
The Day Before the Disaster
On December 2, 1984, workers at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal noticed a small leak in the pipes connected to Tank 610, which held 42 tons of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC). Instead of addressing the issue, they chose to ignore it. Reporting and fixing the leak would have required time and resources, luxuries the cost-cutting management was unwilling to expend.
Tank 610 had been neglected for months. The refrigeration system, crucial for keeping MIC at safe temperatures, had been shut down to save money. Without refrigeration, the temperature inside the tank began to rise, increasing the internal pressure.
As the day progressed, the pressure continued to build. The safety valve, designed to release excess pressure, was faulty due to lack of maintenance. No alarms were triggered; no warnings were issued. The plant’s management, including local supervisors and executives at Union Carbide’s headquarters in the United States, had created an environment where safety was secondary to profit margins.
The Critical Error – 10:30 PM, December 2, 1984
At 10:30 PM, during routine maintenance, a worker was flushing the pipes. Unbeknownst to him, a faulty isolation valve allowed water to seep directly into Tank 610, which held 42 tons of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC).
The introduction of water into the MIC triggered a runaway chemical reaction. This reaction generated intense heat, causing the temperature inside the tank to soar to 200°C (392°F). The rapidly increasing heat led to a buildup of pressure within the tank.
At this critical juncture, the plant’s safety systems should have intervened to prevent disaster. However, due to cost-cutting measures, these systems were non-operational:
- The gas scrubber, designed to neutralize escaping toxic gases, was shut off.
- The flare tower, intended to burn off hazardous emissions, was out of service.
- The refrigeration system, crucial for keeping the MIC at safe temperatures, had been turned off months earlier to reduce expenses.
With all safety mechanisms disabled, the escalating pressure had no controlled outlet. The tank’s internal pressure continued to rise unchecked, setting the stage for the catastrophic events that would soon unfold.
The Alarm That Never Warned – 12:30 AM, December 3, 1984
At 12:30 AM, the pressure inside Tank 610 reached its limit.
The emergency relief valve burst open, releasing 40 tons of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) gas into the atmosphere. The toxic cloud spread silently through the plant and into the sleeping neighborhoods of Bhopal.
Union Carbide’s warning system failed catastrophically. The plant’s alarms, which should have alerted both workers and the surrounding community, were either non-functional or intentionally silenced. Workers did not sound the siren until it was far too late, leaving residents unaware and vulnerable to the deadly gas enveloping their homes.
This failure to warn resulted in thousands of immediate deaths and long-term health consequences for the exposed population. The absence of an effective alarm system exemplified the severe negligence and lack of preparedness that characterized the plant’s operations.
The Nightmare Unfolds – 1:00 AM, December 3, 1984
At 1:00 AM, the toxic MIC gas cloud descended upon Bhopal.
Residents awoke abruptly, gasping for air. Their eyes burned; lungs seared with pain. Panic spread as families fled into the darkness. Parents clutched their children, running through chaotic streets. Animals collapsed where they stood.
- Many who attempted to escape fell mid-stride, succumbing within minutes.
- Hospitals were overwhelmed with victims.
- Doctors, uninformed about the gas’s nature, were at a loss for effective treatments.
- There was no plan, no guidance.
The city’s medical infrastructure was unprepared for such a catastrophe. The immediate chaos gave way to a prolonged health crisis, with thousands suffering from chronic ailments in the years that followed.
The Cost – By Sunrise, December 3, 1984
As dawn broke over Bhopal, the full extent of the catastrophe became evident. Thousands of bodies lay strewn across the streets. Entire families had been wiped out in their sleep.
The official immediate death toll was reported as 2,259. However, estimates suggest that between 8,000 to 10,000 people perished within the first 72 hours. In the ensuing years, the death toll has risen, with estimates ranging from 15,000 to over 20,000 lives lost due to gas-related diseases.
Beyond the immediate fatalities, the disaster left a lasting impact on the survivors. Approximately 500,000 people were exposed to the toxic gas, leading to chronic health issues such as respiratory problems, eye irritation, and neurological disorders.
The lack of adequate medical infrastructure and preparedness exacerbated the suffering, with many victims receiving minimal or no compensation for their enduring ailments.
Who Was Responsible?
Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), headquartered in the United States, owned just over 50% of Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL), the operator of the Bhopal plant.
Warren Anderson, CEO of Union Carbide at the time, was later charged with culpable homicide. He flew to Bhopal on December 7, 1984, was arrested, but released on bail and allowed to leave the country, promising to return to face any criminal proceedings. However, he never faced trial.
People lost lives, parent saw their children writhe in front of them and they could do nothing to end the suffering… but what could they have possibly done?