Bhopal gas tragedy: Toxic waste removed from Union carbide factory after 40 years
Forty years after the Bhopal gas tragedy, the shifting of about 337 metric tonnes of chemical waste stored at the Union Carbide factory site commenced on Wednesday for its disposal.
On the night of December 2, 1984, a massive release of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas from the Union Carbide plant transformed the city into a gas chamber, killing more than 15,000 people and affecting over 600,000.
The waste, linked to the deaths in one of India’s deadliest industrial disasters, was being handled under the supervision of the district administration, municipal corporation, health department and pollution control board. The disposal will take place at a facility in Pithampur.
As many as 12 leak-proof and fire-resistant containers were being used to transport the waste, with each container carrying an average of 30 tonnes. Around 100 workers were involved in the process, with shifts limited to 30 minutes due to safety concerns.
During the transfer of the chemical waste to containers, a 200-metre radius around the site was sealed. All entry points were closed and over 1,000 police officers were deployed for security.
The waste was being transported through Bhopal, Sehore, Dewas and Indore to reach Pithampur. To ensure safe transportation, the convoy of 12 containers was moving at an average speed of 50 kilometres per hour. It includes police escorts, ambulances, doctors, fire brigade units and quick-response teams, with a total of 25 vehicles, which will be travelling overnight.
The waste comprises five types of materials, including remnants of Sevin, a pesticide produced at the Union Carbide factory. The site also contained methyl isocyanate (MIC), the gas that caused thousands of deaths during the disaster. Additional materials include reactor residues, contaminated soil and other chemicals used at the plant.
The toxic waste includes 162 metric tonnes of soil, 92 metric tonnes of Sevin and naphthol residues, 54 metric tonnes of semi-processed pesticides, and 29 metric tonnes of reactor waste.