In this article, we will see 20 most frequently asked questions about Bhopal Gas Tragedy. It was probably one of the most worst chemical disaster happened in the history of India where thousands of people died and many of them who survived faced severe respiratory and other critical health problems which is totally unimaginable. This tragedy became the turning point of how we used see the chemicals and understood the evil effects in terms of what it can do to us if unaware or if we do not take proper caution.

Many people who are still unaware of the tragedy that happens in the beautiful city of Bhopal, would like to know what exactly happened here and how events turned out to be deadly one for the innocents living nearby. So we are bringing some of the most frequently asked questions about Bhopal Gas Tragedy in below section which will help you in finding the answers to your questions.

 

20 Most Frequently Asked Questions about Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Also Read: 31 Best General Knowledge MCQs for all Competition Exams

1. What is Bhopal Gas Tragedy ?

Ans. It is one of the worst disaster in a chemical industry which affected thousands of people living nearby. On the night of December 2nd, 1984, union carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal started leaking around 27 tonnes of highly toxic methyl isocyanate gas into the air, killing immediately 3800 people and a long term impact on several thousands.

2. Which gas leaked in Bhopal gas tragedy ?

Ans. Methyl Isocyanate(MIC) Gas

3. Which chemical was responsible for Bhopal gas tragedy ?

Ans. Phosgene and Methyl Isocyanate were the main chemicals responsible for the tragedy.

4. How many people died in Bhopal gas tragedy ?

Ans. An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people died as a result of the disaster, and some 500,000 survivors suffered respiratory problems, blindness, and other health problems

5. When did Bhopal gas tragedy happened ?

Ans. It was occurred on the night of 2nd December 1984.

6. Which company was responsible for the Bhopal gas tragedy ?

Ans. Union Carbide Corporation

7. What were the effects of Bhopal gas tragedy ?

Ans. The Bhopal Gas tragedy had a long term impact on both environment as well as on health. Below are some of the severe impacts:-

• Heavy and thick layer of deadly gas immediately filled the lungs of people living nearby causing permanent lung illness.
• Methyl Isocyanate gas strongly reacted to organic tissues causing chemical burns to skin and eyes.
• The heavy gas absorbed into local river and other water bodies making it poisonous and undrinkable resulted into the killing of all marine life.
• Many crops and plants declared unsafe for consumption and other usages.
• Many land animals died immediately on the night of December 2, 1984.
• Many abortions and birth defects reported over the years.
• Chronic diseases became prevalent in the region for next several years.

8. How did Bhopal gas tragedy occurred ?

Ans. The tragedy occurred due to substandard operating and safety procedures in the understaffed pesticides chemical plant. The leakage of water into the malfunctioned tank caused the runaway exothermic chemical reaction that forced the pressure release valve to open and allowed the gas to leak.

9. When was the UCC factory closed ?

Ans. It was closed in the year 1986.

10. When was the UCIL factory built ?

Ans. It was built in the year 1969.

11. What was the end product of UCIL factory ?

Ans. The end product was a pesticide called Sevin (UCC's brand name for carbaryl).

12. What was the intermediate product in UCIL factory ?

Ans. Methyl Isocyanate (MIC)

13. Which inert gas was used to pressurized the liquid MIC Storage Tank ?

Ans. Nitrogen

14. How many liquid MIC Storage tanks were housed in Bhopal UCIL facility ?

Ans. There were three underground 68,000-litre (18,000 US gal) liquid MIC storage tanks housed in Bhopal UCIL facility.

15. Who conducted the initial investigation of the tragedy ?

Ans. The initial investigation of the tragedy was conducted entirely by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Central Bureau of Investigation. More on wikipedia.

16. What are the other components most likely to be contained in the leaked gas ?

Ans. The other components most likely to be included in the leaked gas were chloroform, dichloromethane, hydrogen chloride, methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine and carbon dioxide.

17. Does the leaked gas also contained hydrogen cyanide ?

Ans. The laboratory investigations performed by CSIR and UCC scientists failed to demonstrate the presence of hydrogen cyanide.

18. Who was the UCC Chairman during the Bhopal tragedy incident ?

Ans. Warren Anderson

19. Which act was passed by Government of India(GoI) to represent all victims, whether or not in India ?

Ans. Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster Act

20. When did Warren Anderson died ?

Ans. He died at the age of 92 years on 29 September 2014.