40 Years of Wait: Toxic Waste from Bhopal Gas Tragedy Site Leaves City

Late at night on 2nd December, the Union Carbide Factory of Bhopal witnessed a sudden rise of heat in one of the tank chambers that cooled down the reactors. The rise of temperature was uncontrollable as there were 45 tonnes of Methyl Isocynite. The workers had to cool down the chambers or an explosion could occur. Reaction with heat would turn the chemical into Methylamine which can be harmful for people as it can impact the lungs.

All of a sudden, the reactor chamber exploded, and high heat was compressed on Methyl Isocyanate. This led to the spread of the gas across the city and caused breathing issues among the people. It is believed that close to 3800 people died because of the incident however, the real numbers could be as high as 18000.

After several reports and investigations, it was found that the Union Carbide Factory of Bhopal did not follow proper safety procedures which led to the gas leak and claimed the lives of people. Warren Anderson was the active CEO of UCF and he was charged with a felony and some civil cases for not complying with the safety norms and not taking action despite being aware of the improper safety measures. The deadly incident has engraved fear among the survivors and their relatives.

After 40 years, Bhopal has regained popularity with no sign of earlier catastrophe. Lives have become usual but the horrors of the site remain intact. The first day of 2025 witnessed the cleaning of the toxic material from the Union Carbide Factory. Ambulances, Fire tenders, and Police were present during the shift. There were close to 335 tonnes of toxic materials that were transported in different containers. A 250 km long corridor was designed to facilitate the smooth transportation of the toxic fumants.

The Police Commissioner and Superintendent of Police were present during the transportation with the highest level of security and safety norms. 12 special leakproof containers were designed where the toxic materials were packed in HDPE sheets to prevent the reaction of the chemical. According to reports from the police close to 200 meters of the factory was sealed for anyone so that additional safety can be comprehended.

Close to 200 workers were hired to clean the toxic materials and worked for 30-minute shifts which is a sheer example of the advanced safety measurements made by the authorities. A strong resistance from Pithampur is being experienced because of the toxic material. Doctors from Indore’s Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital have protested against the dumping of the material without the material being properly assessed.

The waste Disposal plant of Pithampura is a state-of-the-art incineration facility where the waste will be dumped and burnt. A furnace has been created which is 25 feet above the ground level ensuring no contraction with the natural air. While the waste is being burnt, the conditions such as temperature, humidity, and wind direction will be monitored to ensure a safe environment.