Outline for a talk, on Bhopal Gas Tragedy

1. Outline for a talk, on Bhopal Gas Tragedy Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the worst ‘Mega Industrial Disaster’ of the world happened in the night of 2nd & 3rd December 1984 when a pesticide plant of Union Carbide spewed about forty to forty five tons of highly lethal MIC gas. Thousand five hundred persons were killed instantaneously and lakhs were taken seriously sick but not a single person of Union Carbide died. The gas had started trickling slowly long before midnight, may be around ten or even earlier, but its effect was not felt by the people at large. Union Carbide people were struggling unsuccessfully to plug the leakage. Ultimately around one, the entire gas of one tank, about forty to forty five tons, escaped into the air and created havoc. The pungent gas was suffocating, irritating in the eyes and was like flames on the skin, face in particular.

2. Spread of MIC Gas • Union Carbide plant was situated at the northern edge of Bhopal city. • wind was still, hence the gas first went up • wind blew towards south, carrying the gas to those areas

3. Contd… • then wind blew towards southwest, hence gas went that way • then again south etc.

4. Contd… • Thus gas wenton slowly moving & changing its southward courses as per variation in wind directions, went on settling down in densely inhabited areas and went on inflicting people. • with the passage of time, it went on getting diluted and becoming more & more tolerable.

5. Immediate consequences in the worst affected areas • Nobody could bear the gas and had to flee away as fast as one could. • Those who had their own vehicles, fled quickly; others ran on foot. Those running on foot mobbed & forcibly occupied available space in buses, trucks, cars, scooters etc. All cooperated in crisis though stampede had its own casualties. • Institutions running round the clock i.e. even in the night like Hospitals, Police Stations, etc were deserted. Under trials in police station lock-ups were let out to save their lives. Police control room’s wireless conversation became silent.

6. Contd… • People who inhaled the gas excessively, died instantaneously–either in homes or while fleeing or elsewhere; others went on dying gradually as per the severity of exposure to this gas. • Bhopal Railway station was completely defecated due to vomited matter, urine and human excreta and was stinking in the morning. • Nothing happened to those who remained indoors sleeping with doors & windows tightly closed as gas could not enter.

7. Effect in outer areas • People fled to all directions away from the Union Carbide area. • JP District Hospital in south Bhopal about 12 KM away from Union Carbide factory was the first to be flooded with gas victims and first to report casualties – first two casualties, then three more and so on.

8. Contd… • A large number of persons fled to places as far away as Sehore, Hoshangabad, Raisen, Gwalior & even Delhi. Some gas casualties were reported from these places also. • More distance the gas traveled, more diluted it became. Hence in southern Bhopal and suburban parts of Bhopal, its effect was not felt as people were asleep indoors in the wintry night.

9. Initial response of the administration & the people in general and how the macabre sight went on unfolding as time progressed • Whatever happened for one & half hour, happened spontaneously. Mobilization of Executives Magistrates and Police Officers commenced thereafter. • Initially focus was on regulating the exodus, avoidance of accidents and worrying about the security of deserted areas, though nothing could be done in these respects.

10. Contd… • Realization that the gas was toxic and lethal dawned only after getting information about the casualties from JP hospital. • Ambulance from JP hospital was the first to be sent to Union Carbide area and then other resources were mobilized to transport gas victims to hospitals. • Spot coordinators deployed in various affected areas & hospitals by the District Administration (duly supplemented by Division’s resources).

11. Contd… • True macabre/dreadful scenario unfolded only after daybreak. • The biggest hospital in old Bhopal i.e. Gandhi Medical College & Hospital, deserted in the night, became operational by daybreak and gave symptomatic treatment to gas victims on a massive scale.

12. Contd… • All philanthropic people & NGOs turned up with enough eatables, milk, tea, fruits etc at major centers. District administration guided them to needy people & places. NGOs opened community kitchens at several central places and ran them round the clock. • Help of chemists enlisted. • One more exodus in the fore noon on 3rd December.

13. Handling and disposal of dead bodies • Almost all dead bodies collected (courtesy BMC) in Gandhi Medical College campus for identification/PM. (within two days) • Cremation/burial – shortage of dry wood; later supplied by Forest Department.

14. Contd… • A large number of dead bodies remained unclaimed / unrecognized. • Unaware of ex-gratia payment, many dead bodies taken directly for last rites / to Narmada river. Announcement of ex-gratia payment of Rs. ten thousand per casualty to the nearest surviving member, was made on 04-12-1984.

15. Contd… • Wide gap in the number of casualties given out in ‘press briefings’ of the Government vis-à-vis the independent findings of the Media. Reconciled–after night surveys of cremation / burial grounds w.e.f. 05-12-1984. • Want of documentation while collecting dead bodies, led to serious problems later.

16. Problems confronting speedy rescue & relief operations • Departmental officer after officer went on avoiding to take responsibility to send the resources wanted by the Control Room of the Collector & District Magistrate, ostensively on the ground, that the matter did not concern him/her and concerned some one else. • Any delay would have led to spread of epidemic and other complications.

17. Contd… • Senior bureaucrats in the Government also did not respond positively, then the Chief Minister was approached. • Crucial meeting in the Control Room in the evening of 4th December under the chairmanship of Chief Minister. CS, ACS, PS, SECYS, HODS etc attended.

18. Contd… • Senior representatives of following to remain in my control room for all the 24 Hrs.:- • Veterinary Department To certify death of insured animals & to assist in documentation of animal carcasses. • Local Self Govt. & Collection of remaining dead bodies, Bhopal Municipal Corporation cleansing of filth & dirt / animal carcasses, supply of water etc. • PHE Water supply. • Forest Department. Supply of dry wood for cremation. • Health Department For ambulances & other health services

19. Removal and disposal of animal carcasses • Animal carcasses, bloated buffalos in particular, littered across the affected areas. • Outside resources started pouring in from the early morning of 5th December as per plan chalked out previous night. • Massive operation on 5th & 6th. Cranes, dumpers, tractors etc used.

20. Contd… • Several trucks of lime & salt used. • Volunteers also did good job. • Documentation done by joint teams of Revenue & Veterinary departments. All necessary details noted down. Found extremely useful later, during the payment of financial assistance for the loss of animals.

21. Immediate relief to gas victims • Ex-gratia payment of Rs.10000=00 per casualty, to nearest surviving member. Announced on 4th December. • Simultaneously financial assistance as under:- - Rs.2000=00 to every serious gas victim. - Up to Rs.1000=00 each to other gas victims. • 20 teams started cash disbursement of ex-gratia payment and financial assistance on the spot. Of these 16 teams were headed by Special Secretaries to Govt.

22. Contd… • Many did good job, went from patient to patient in hospitals. A few cases went awry –Katju hospital & Chhola road to be quoted. • Lost & Found – arrangement.

23. Operation Faith to neutralize the remaining stock of MIC.(under the supervision of DG CSIR assisted by country’s eminent scientists / experts in the field) • Entry of Warren Woomer & party into UC factory. • Unnecessary secrecy in plan preparation created scare. • Declaration of holidays in educational institutions from12th to 23rd December. • Special CL in offices wef 3rd to 21st December. • Parking of a huge fleet of buses in Lal Parade Ground.

24. Contd… • Scheme of Operation Faith announced by the Secretariat on 13th December. • Camps in new Bhopal • OLD BHOPAL BECAME DESERTED long before work on Operation Faith started on 16th December. UC campus & the roads around the factory thoroughly drenched, a high wall of Hessian cloth raised all around the factory & being kept wet all along with fire tenders, air force helicopters hovering in the sky over the factory ready to shower / drop water on the gas in case it escaped into the atmosphere, etc. Neutralization nothing but normal production of ‘Sevin’

25. Some other relief and Rehabilitation measures • STEP-UP (special training and employment programme for urban poor)- introduced from back door. Eligibility – annual income of the family not more than Rs 4500/ and age of the head not less than 18 yrs.& not more than 40 yrs. • Free distribution of ration & milk. Initially @ wheat 2 kg & rice 1 kg. Later wheat 9kg & rice 3 kg per month. Much later oil & sugar also. • Financial assistance for the loss of animals. • Financial assistance of Rs.1500=00 per family on the basis of the survey by Tata Institute of Social Sciences Bombay.

26. Important events • Arrest of J Mukund etc. • Arrest of Warren Anderson, Keshav Mahindra, and Vijay Gokhale on 7th December 1984. • Restriction on the entry into Union Carbide factory. • Contrivance against the drawl of the sample of killer gas. • A large number of claims for ex-gratia payment - controversy over the list of gas casualties, unclaimed / unrecognized bodies etc. • General Elections – Parliamentary in December 84 & Assembly in March 85. • Survey by Tata Institute of Social Sciences Bombay. • Threats posed by toxic and hazardous gases, chemicals & other material in UC factory. 485 tons on 17-12-1984. Attitude of Labour Department

27. Contd… • Medical treatment – controversy over ‘Sodium-thio-sulphate’. • Claims of gas victims for compensation – supporting documents separated and destroyed before medical examination, agreement with UC for a paltry sum, tribunal awards also not as per spirit of Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster Act 1985. • Litigation in USA. Lackadaisical approach in prosecuting it. • Handling of relief material & volunteers. • Magisterial Inquiry / Judicial Inquiry –wound up. Vital facts swept under carpet. • Contrivance / machinations for getting awards.

28. Lessons(1) Ignoring warnings, repeatedly, proved disastrous Long term: • Smaller accidents, resulting even in casualties in 1981, 1982 etc. • Safety report by UCC team in 1982 is also said to have apprehended ‘Potential for MIC release either due to equipment failure or operating failure.’ • several safety systems to prevent disasters; one after another became dysfunctional.

29. Contd… Immediate: • On D-day, Gas slowly trickling for several hours, apparent signal for disaster. • neither vulnerable people informed through ‘sirens’ nor District Administration. • Vulnerable people not informed about the use of wet cloth on the face to protect themselves from the gas.

30. (2) Dual Administration does not work. • Spot coordinators deployed by the Secretariat could not do anything.

31. (3)Responsibility & Power should go hand in hand. • Drawl of sample of killer gas during Operation Faith – DG CSIR, Secretary Sc & T and Home Secretary were taking all decisions in consultation with Union Carbide and communicating directly with MP High Court but were tossing High Court’s order on to DM for getting compliance from Union Carbide/DG CSIR done. • Disbursement of ex-gratia & financial assistance and Survey by Tata Institute of Social Sciences etc by Secretariat departments directly but were not owning responsibility before State Level Committee. Hence STEP-UP through back door.

32. (4) Arrogant & casual intervention by Top-Bosses should be avoided • Confusion in STEP-UP • CS’ refusal to hear any suggestion on procedure for money disbursement (on 04-12-1984) & lifting of animal carcasses.

33. (5) SYSTEMS Important, casual & haphazard handling of Relief and Rehabilitation schemes - a blunder. • Accounts of payments of ex-gratia and financial assistance not maintained properly. • Many claimants got ex-gratia payments more than once. • Many ineligible persons got ex-gratia payments illegally. • No recoveries were possible for want of any sensible records.

34. Contd… • Total confusion in the case of financial assistance (Rs.2000 & Rs.1000). Violence erupted in one centre but all teams discontinued disbursement. In the absence of any sensible accounts, it was not possible even for those teams to know who had received assistance and who has not. Hence also payments could not be resumed. Substantial number of gas victims left out & deprived of their due. Serious complications followed.

35. (6)Coordination – THE CRUX • Confusion in schemes at (5) above for want of coordination also. • Preparation of the list of casualties. • Serious infirmities in the Survey by Tata Institute of Social Sciencs.

36. Following schemes well managed due to proper coordination • rescue & relief operations (eatables etc with the help of the society) • collection & final rites of the dead bodies within two days. • cleansing the city of animal carcasses within another two days. • Free distribution of ration & milk etc (under the guidance of Food Secretary) for several lakhs of people for several months. • Disbursement of financial assistance for the loss of animals.

37. Contd… • Survey and implementation of STEP-UP (Special training and employment programme for urban poor). • Drawl of the sample of the killer gas in compliance of High Court order, when Senior Secretaries went on tossing it to one another. • Payment of financial assistance of Rs.1500=00 per family on the basis of the survey by Tata Institute of Social Sciences Bombay. • Assistance to Secretariat teams in locating beneficiaries to receive payments and to Home Secretary in reconciling the wide gap in the number of casualties etc.

38. Some other lapses • Faulty determination of gas affected area. • Failure to get just & fair compensation for the gas victims • Documentation of loss of life & damage to health, massive devastation and expenditure on rescue & relief operations, etc not done. • For litigation in USA, our lawyers neither given any write up containing all necessary details, nor briefed properly. Very casual approach on our side. • Agreement with UC on hopelessly low amount. • 3 A few Top doctors & bureaucrats, either connected with or sympathetic to Union Carbide, should have been divested of their responsibilities in respect of the functions relating to this disaster management. • 4 Necessary additional manpower, for Relief & Rehabilitation, on long term basis not provided for months.

39. Thank You