Endless Night: Union Carbide Tragedy Quiz

Answer: Central state of Madhya Pradesh

The plant was set up under a subsidiary named Union Carbide India Limited in which the parent company had a 50.9% stake. Initially set up to manufacture Sevin, in 1979 another plant was added to manufacture Methyl Isocyanate, an intermediate in the production of Sevin.

Sevin, whose chemical name is Carbaryl, was discovered by Union Carbide and introduced commercially in 1958. Although an effective pesticide, the use of Carbaryl is illegal in countries like Britain and Germany, among others. Union Carbide sold the trademark Sevin to Bayer in 2002.

Answer: Water

This triggered off an exothermic reaction and the temperature inside the tank rose rapidly. Unable to withstand the high temperature and build up of pressure, the tank containing the methyl isocyanate released a large volume of hazardous fumes into the atmosphere.

Answer: Sabotage

As late as 2010 the company maintained that a disgruntled former worker had intentionally added water to the tank containing methyl isocyanate which resulted in the mishap. Other theories on how water entered the tank include bad maintenance and malfunctioning valves.

Answer: All of these - and more

Due to declining profitability, Union Carbide had decided to shut down the plant and sell it off in early 1984. However, they were unable to find a suitable buyer. In the meantime, several cost cutting measures were put in place, which greatly reduced the safety standards of the plant. Retrenchment and salary disputes also led to a number of skilled workers leaving the company. Even though the state government was aware of the high risk posed by the plant operating in such conditions, no steps were taken to deal with the situation.

Answer: He was released on bail six hours later and fled the country.

Warren Anderson was flown out of the country on a government plane! Three years later, the Government of India summoned Anderson along with a few other top executives to face trial in India. However, they claimed that since Union Carbide was not under Indian jurisdiction, they were under no obligation to comply with the summons.

Despite several attempts, India was unable to extradite Anderson even till May 2010.

Answer: The Indian Government would be the sole representative of the victims in all legal cases.

Bhopal was a fertile ground for lawyers to file mass tort cases and the Government was afraid of the legal tangles of having so many victims represented individually. To ensure the case was speedily dealt with and compensation adequately provided to all those affected, it passed the Bhopal Gas Leak Act in March 1985 becoming the sole representative of the victims in all legal cases.

Answer: True

The groundwater in the area has been tested and found to have high levels of mercury apart from other toxins like napthol. Water samples collected from tube wells near the factory have also been found to be toxic to fish.

Inhabitants of the area suffered from respiratory illnesses and children of affected women were born with severe birth defects.

Answer: Dow Chemicals

Dow claimed right at the beginning that it didn't have any obligation towards the Bhopal Gas leak catastrophe and the financial settlements had already been done by Union Carbide itself. On the twentieth anniversary of the tragedy, BBC broadcasted an interview with an alleged Dow representative called Jude Finisterra who declared that Dow had decided to clean up the site of the disaster and duly compensate all the victims. Immediately, prices of Dow's shares plunged before the company stated that they had made no such announcement and the entire episode was declared a hoax.

Answer: Two years' imprisonment and Rs. 1 lakh in fines

The verdict was hailed as a mockery of justice. Within hours of the verdict, seven of the accused were released on bail (one of the people held guilty had already died much earlier). The verdict also raised questions on the culpability of non executive Chairmen of companies who were not involved in managing the day to day functioning and the extent to which they can be held liable in such situations.

Answer: "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy

"Animal's People" is a fictional account of a boy born with a twisted spine due to the gas leak and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2007. "Five Past Midnight in Bhopal" is part fiction and part historical fact while "The Black Box of Bhopal" is a nonfictional account of the disaster and the ensuing legal and social events.