Bhopal Disaster 1984

The Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984

The Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984 remains a haunting reminder of the severe consequences of lax safety protocols in industrial settings.

Cause

The catastrophe was triggered by a series of failures - an equipment malfunction, inadequate safety measures, and human error. Water infiltrated a storage tank through a faulty valve containing methyl isocyanate (MIC), initiating an exothermic reaction. This surge in pressure and temperature caused the release of toxic gas into the surrounding area.

Consequences

• Over 40 tons of release methyl isocyanate.

• More than 3800 people were killed.

• Long-term health impacts on survivors.

• Environmental contamination.

Lesson learnt

The Bhopal tragedy underscored the dangers of unchecked industrial expansion in developing nations. From this tragedy, several crucial lessons have been learnt:

• Industrial growth in developing countries needs strong safety regulations.

• Multinational corporations must adhere to consistent safety standards globally.

• Implementing international safety regulations can prevent disasters akin to Bhopal.

• Governments and agencies must prioritise accident prevention in developing regions.

• Safety measures should include careful plant siting and strict regulations.

• Hazardous industries should be kept away from densely populated areas, with ample support extended to affected communities.

• Weak public health infrastructure worsens the impact of industrial accidents.

• Future industrial planning should consider existing infrastructure.

• Communities lacking resources should not host hazardous industries.

Policy response

In response to the tragedy, India enacted the Environment Protection Act in 1986, establishing the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and strengthening India's dedication to environmental preservation. However, despite the lessons learnt from the acute and chronic effects of exposure to pesticides and their precursors in Bhopal, agricultural practices have remained largely unchanged (Broughton, 2005).

References

Broughton E. (2005). The Bhopal disaster and its aftermath: a review. Environmental health: a global access science source, 4(1), 6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-4-6