Question map
Leakage of which one of the following gases had caused Bhopal Gas Tragedy in the year 1984 ?
Explanation
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy, which occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984, was caused by the leakage of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas [3]. The toxic gas escaped from a storage tank at the Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) pesticide plant in Bhopal, India [1]. MIC was used as an intermediate in the production of carbamate pesticides. The leak resulted in the immediate death of thousands of people due to internal hemorrhaging and lung failure, and it remains one of the world's worst industrial disasters [2]. While other isocyanates like hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) are used in industrial coatings and foams, they were not involved in this specific tragedy [5]. The disaster was exacerbated by the failure of safety systems and the plant's proximity to densely populated areas [2].
Sources
- [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > The Bhopal Gas Tragedy > p. 721
- [3] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/bhopal-gas-tragedy-40-years-of-injustice/
- [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Problems at the Very Outset > p. 722
- [5] https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/78638146.pdf