bbc on this day report_1984 hundreds die in bhopal chemical accident-1

8/11/2019 BBC on This Day Report_1984 Hundreds Die in Bhopal Chemical Accident-1

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1984: Hundreds die in Bhopal chemical accidenthttp://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/3/newsid_2698000/2698709.stm

Hundreds of people have died from the effects of toxic gases which leaked from a chemical factory near thecentral Indian city of Bhopal.

The accident happened in the early hours of this morning at the American-owned Union ar!ide "esticide"lant three miles #$.% km& from Bhopal.

'r ( " )okhale* managing director of Union ar!ide in India* said that methyl isocyanate gas #'I& had

escaped when a valve in the plant+s underground storage tank !roke under pressure.

'others didn+t know theirchildren had died* childrendidn+t know their mothershad died and men didn+tknow their whole familieshad died,!r

Ahmed han* Bhopal resident,!r

This caused a deadly cloud of lethal gas to float from the factory over Bhopal* which is home to more than/00*000 people - many of whom live in slums.

haos and panic !roke out in the city and surrounding areas as tens of thousands of people attempted toescape.

'ore than 10*000 people have re2uired hospital treatment for symptoms including swollen eyes* frothing atthe mouth and !reathing difficulties.

Thousands of dead cats* dogs* cows and !irds litter the streets and the city+s mortuaries are filling up fast.

Bhopal resident* Ahmed han* said3 45e were choking and our eyes were !urning. 5e could !arely see theroad through the fog* and sirens were !laring.

45e didn+t know which way to run. 6very!ody was very confused.

4'others didn+t know their children had died* children didn+t know their mothers had died and men didn+t

Watch/Listen

The factory was closedimmediately after theaccident

'ark Tully reports onthe aftermath of theleak
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/3/newsid_2698000/2698709.stmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6590000/newsid_6591600?redirect=6591631.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6590000/newsid_6591600?redirect=6591631.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6590000/newsid_6591600?redirect=6591631.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6590000/newsid_6591600?redirect=6591631.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/3/newsid_2698000/2698709.stmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6590000/newsid_6591600?redirect=6591631.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6590000/newsid_6591600?redirect=6591631.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6590000/newsid_6591600?redirect=6591631.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1


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know their whole families had died.4

The Union ar!ide factory was closed immediately after the accident and three senior mem!ers of staffarrested.

'edical and scientific experts have !een dispatched to the scene and the Indian government has ordered a7udicial in2uiry.

It is understood the Indian "rime 'inister* 8a7iv )andhi* will !e flying to the area within the next few days.

In Context

This was one of the world+s worst industrial accidents. ,!r

9early :*000 people died from the effects of the poisonous gas in the days following the disaster. ,!r

6stimates say that some ;0*000 people were treated in the first few days suffering terri!le side-effects*including !lindness* kidney and liver failure. ,!r

ampaigners say nearly 10*000 others have since died from the effects of the leak. ,!r

Investigations into the disaster revealed that something had gone fundamentally wrong with a tank storinglethal methyl isocyanate #'I&. ,!r

In $?0m in asettlement which many descri!ed as woefully inade2uate. ,!r

But in


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commission to pay nearly :;0m to more than ;?0*000 victims of the disaster. ,!r

bbc on this day report_1984 hundreds die in bhopal chemical accident-1

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