The Bhopal Disaster in India

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The Bhopal disaster took place in India in 1984 at the UCC plant, more than 40 tons of methyl isocyanate escaped out of a faulty valve killing over 3800 people instantly in the town of Bhopal. It caused many thousands more to suffer greatly, and die from significant morbidity, and premature death. The significance of it all has been very catastrophic, it is considered to be the worst “man” made disaster. The company tried to divert attention away from its self to avoid accountability. However ultimately they reached an agreement through the courts through mediation and reached an amount of $470 million dollars in damages; this was a very small amount considering the true cost of it all. The reason for this major catastrophe had all started with the plant being built in a light industrial commercial zone, not a hazardous materials zone. Trying to push the envelope, and make more money the plant took on greater responsibility and more of a project. The plant was originally approved only for formulation of pesticides from component chemicals, like MIC imported from th...

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