13-04-2012, 12:01 PM
Bhopal Gas Tragedy
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THE POSSIBLE REASONS
One of the main reasons for the tragedy was found to be a result of a combination of human factors and an incorrectly designed safety system.
A portion of the safety equipment at the plant had been non-operational for four months and the rest failed.
Aftermath of the leakage
Medical staff were unprepared for the thousands of casualties
Doctors and hospitals were not informed of proper treatment methods for MIC gas inhalation. They were told to simply give cough medicine and eye drops to their patients
The gases immediately caused visible damage to the trees. Within a few days, all the leaves fell off
2,000 bloated animal carcasses had to be disposed of
"Operation Faith": On December 16, the tanks 611 and 619 were emptied of the remaining MIC. This led to a second mass evacuation from Bhopal
Complaints of a lack of information or misinformation were widespread. The Bhopal plant medical doctor did not have proper information about the properties of the gases. An Indian Government spokesman said that "Carbide is more interested in getting information from us than in helping our relief work.
Short term health effects
The leakage caused many short term health effects in the surrounding areas
The gas cloud was composed mainly of materials denser than the surrounding air, stayed close to the ground and spread outwards through the surrounding community.
The initial effects of exposure were coughing, vomiting, severe eye irritation and a feeling of suffocation.
Thousands of people had succumbed by the morning hours. There were mass funerals and mass cremations as well as disposal of bodies in the Narmada river. 170,000 people were treated at hospitals and temporary dispensaries. 2,000 buffalo, goats, and other animals were collected and buried.
A total of 36 wards were marked by the authorities as being "gas affected", affecting a population of 520,000. Of these, 200,000 were below 15 years of age, and 3,000 were pregnant women. In 1991, 3,928 deaths had been certified. Independent organizations recorded 8,000 dead in the first days. Other estimations vary between 10,000 and 30,000. Another 100,000 to 200,000 people are estimated to have permanent injuries of different degrees.
LAPSES ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT
The Madhya Pradesh State government had not mandated any safety standards.
Union Carbide failed to implement its own safety rules.
The Bhopal plant experienced six accidents between 1981 and 1984, at least three of which involved MIC or phosgene.
LAPSES ON PART OF UNION CARBIDE
Improper design of chimneys (without consideration of weather conditions in all seasons)
Improper design and maintenance of safety equipment.
Not following safety regulations as that followed by UCC plants in USA.
Decision to neglect a flare system in need of repair.
Inadequate emergency planning and community awareness.
Lack of awareness of the potential impact of MIC on the community by the people operating the plant.
Inadequate community planning, allowing a large population to live near a hazardous manufacturing plant.
Conclusion
The Bhopal gas tragedy could have been averted.
There were lapses on part of the government and UCC.
The actual reason for the tragedy is contrary to popular belief.
An alternate way to produce carbaryl was suggested.
Design of Inherently safer process was required.