The Disaster Haunts Bhopal
On the night of December 2, 1984
a toxic gas leak at a Union Carbide pesticide plant
was a terrible tragedy that continues to evoke
strong emotions even 30 years later,
disaster haunts Bhopal survivors.
When the sun rose the next morning,
the magnitude of devastation was clear.
Dead bodies of humans and animals blocked the street,
leaves turned black and a smell of
burning chili peppers lingered in the air.
Plant run by Union Carbide leaked about 40 tons of
deadly methyl isocyanate gas into the air in Bhopal,
quickly killing about 4,000 people.
Lingering effects of the poison pushed
the death toll to about 15,000 over the next few years.
In November 1984, most of the safety -
systems were not functioning
and many valves and lines were in poor condition.
In addition, several vent gas scrubbers had been out of service
as well as the steam boiler, intended to clean the pipes.
The pipes were rusty,
The rust in the iron pipes made the reaction faster.
All the contents of the tank were released
within a period of about two hours.
The tank had been maintained badly.
I can feel the pain of Mohammed Ismail, Alia,
Rasida Bibi, Kanhya and much, more people of Bhopal
Who suffering from leukorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease,
excessive menstrual bleeding,
and suppression of lactation.
Civil and criminal cases were filed
in the District Court of Bhopal
causing death by negligence.
But justice has eluded the people of Bhopal for more than 20 years.
Union Carbide, refuses to assume these liabilities in India
or clean up the toxic poisons left behind.
Copyright © Chittaranjan Dey | Year Posted 2014
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