December 2nd and 3rd, 1984Now even 40 years later justice has not been served to the victims of the incedent.
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40 years ago in Bhopal, Madia Pradesh, India. 40 metric tons (88,000 lbs) of methyl isocyanate a hazardous chemical compound used in the production of pesticides leaked from the Union Carbide Corporation pesticide plant.
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NBC News Coverage the Day After December 4th, 1984 |
WHAT HAPPENED
Neglecting maintenance to cut costs. |
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Where the disaster began. |
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In order to cut costs maintenance and inspection of the UCC Plant was frequently skipped, cheap materials were used for crucial plant components, the refrigeration system (to avoid MIC chemical rections) was turned off, and there was minimal poorly trained staff operating the plant. The plant had previously experienced 6 accidents since 1981 up to 1984.
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Increasing pressure in the MIC tank caused the emergency control valve to rupture. The flare tower, which was supposed to burn off the gas as it escaped, was also inactive at the time. This allowed the gas to spread downwind over 25 square miles from 12:00 AM to 2:00 AM. Due to the gas’s higher density compared to air, it sank to ground level.
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Timeline of Carelessness
