December 1984
The Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) opened the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) plant in 1970's. UCIL was operated by the Indian government by Indian workers. The factory was designed and built by UCC.
On the evening of December 2, 1984, the workers of the factory were instructed to begin a water washing exercise. The water-washing exercise was to clear the pipes that were clogged with solid trimer waste. The pipes lead from a phosgene system, through the MIC storage tank, and finally onto a scrubber.
The valve that kept water out of the tank was broken and had not been replaced. UCC maintains that the valve not being replaced was an act of sabotage by a disgruntled worker. Speculations of sabotage have never been proven or disproven. Union Carbide Corporation says that they know the identity of the worker but have never released the person's name because it would do no good.
Water leaked into the MIC tank causing a heat reaction. By the early morning of December 3, 1984, 40 tons of Methyl Isocyanate leaked throughout the city of Bhopal. The people of Bhopal woke up to a white cloud of gas floating in the air. Victims rushed to the hospitals complaining of burning eyes and coughing fits. The hospitals quickly became overwhelmed with patients.
The exact number of fatalities is unknown. Some sources say the death toll was around 3,400 people. The Indian government claims that the number of casualties were anywhere from 8,000 to 25,000 people within a week of the leak. The large discrepancy is due to the fact that many bodies were buried or cremated without being accounted for and that people under the age of 18 were not counted.
On the evening of December 2, 1984, the workers of the factory were instructed to begin a water washing exercise. The water-washing exercise was to clear the pipes that were clogged with solid trimer waste. The pipes lead from a phosgene system, through the MIC storage tank, and finally onto a scrubber.
The valve that kept water out of the tank was broken and had not been replaced. UCC maintains that the valve not being replaced was an act of sabotage by a disgruntled worker. Speculations of sabotage have never been proven or disproven. Union Carbide Corporation says that they know the identity of the worker but have never released the person's name because it would do no good.
Water leaked into the MIC tank causing a heat reaction. By the early morning of December 3, 1984, 40 tons of Methyl Isocyanate leaked throughout the city of Bhopal. The people of Bhopal woke up to a white cloud of gas floating in the air. Victims rushed to the hospitals complaining of burning eyes and coughing fits. The hospitals quickly became overwhelmed with patients.
The exact number of fatalities is unknown. Some sources say the death toll was around 3,400 people. The Indian government claims that the number of casualties were anywhere from 8,000 to 25,000 people within a week of the leak. The large discrepancy is due to the fact that many bodies were buried or cremated without being accounted for and that people under the age of 18 were not counted.
The white cloud of MIC
video about the terror endured by the Bhopali people
Bodies of the victims laid in rows for burial
