Analysis of Bhopal Gas Tragedy - Essay Example

The toxic gas spread into the shanty towns near the industry in less than two hours. The residents were affected by the gas which had an effect on their airways, psychology, and eyes leading to choking, anxiety, panic, disorientation, and eye irritation. Reports from eyewitnesses were recorded that a cloud of gas settled over and gradually moved through the shanty towns (Shastri, 1985). However, the diffusion of this gas cloud was prevented by atmospheric inversion and low-wind speed. When the gas cleared on the dawn of December 4th, the affected individuals were either dead or injured. According to statistics, this is considered one of the worst industrial disasters to happen; resulting in approximately 3,787 deaths and 558,125 injuries.

This outstanding rate of fatalities did not stop but persisted for months causing further harm. Approximately 50,000 people were estimated to suffer from the long-term health effects. Moreover, nine years after the fatality, more than a thousand residents continued to experience health issues which may be linked to the accident. Examples of such health issues are corneal opacities, numbness, early cataracts, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Impairment of memory, finer motor skills, and chronic bronchitis (Dhara & Kriebel, 1993).

After the tragedy, Union Carbide India Limited with the permission of the Indian government cleaned up the area until 1998. Union Carbide India Limited also donated $2 million to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, and $5 million to the Indian Red Cross, and shared all information concerning methylisocyanate with the Indian government. In the year 1998, the Madhya Pradesh State Government took over Union Carbide India Limited and assumed responsibility.

Five years later after the tragedy, the Supreme Court of India ordered Union Carbide India Limited to pay $470 million to the Indian government; the amount was paid in full ten days later. Moreover, the court ordered the Indian government to purchase medical insurance policies to cover 100,000 affected people. In the year 2004, the Supreme Court of India ordered the Government to give the remaining funds of the $470 million settlement. As per reports, in September of 2006; the registrar in the office of the Welfare Commissioner cleared all pending claims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.

Although three decades have passed, the root cause of this tragedy is still under a heated dispute between the Indian government and local activists versus the Union Carbide India Limited representatives. The Indian government and populace claim that poor management and maintenance triggered the disaster, while the Union Carbide India Limited representatives claim that the tragedy was an act of sabotage, in which water was introduced into the storage tank. Read More