The city of Bhopal in India was once a calm and peaceful city, however, in the long river of history, the city was shrouded in a dangerous and hidden disaster. Back in the early hours of December 3, 1984, when most people were still wandering in sweet sleep, a terrible explosion suddenly broke out at the pesticide factory of Union Carbide in Bhopal. This incident, which claimed nearly 700,000 lives, became one of the most serious industrial disasters in human history, and was later known as the Bhopal gas leak.
A moment of terror filled with toxic fog
Today, it may be hard to imagine that the establishment of this pesticide factory inspired Indian city dwellers to exchange the toil of the fields for the leisure of the factories. The pesticide factory of the United Carbide Company of the United States stood proudly on Bhopal land in 1969. The factory attracted many young Indians to find employment, and their expectation for the factory was to be able to escape the toil of the farmland and the torment of the wind and sun. Moreover, pesticides seem to be able to work as magic to make crops flourish and yields greatly increased. However, this seemingly beautiful vision pales in comparison to reality.
The pesticide plant is made from methyl isocyanate, a colorless liquid with a pungent odor but highly volatile and a jaw-dropping boiling point. It was this substance that, in World War II, was used by Nazi Germany to massacre Jews, and appalling history has doomed it to notoriety. However, while many countries have legislated to ban the use of this substance, United Carbide has moved this dangerous production to India, driven by the pursuit of profit. Even more shocking is the huge installation large enough to hold 45 tons of methyl isocyanate stored in the basement of the pesticide factory.
Hidden dangers are beginning to appear, and life hangs in the balance
At first, the workers did not feel unusual about the pesticide factory, but over time, those who worked in the toxic environment every day began to develop blurred vision. But unfortunately, this anomaly has not attracted enough attention. Until December 2, the workers on duty that day noticed a problem with the storage device, the temperature continued to rise, and the boiling point of methyl isocyanate was abnormally low. The terrible thing is that not long after, the storage device suddenly underwent a violent chemical reaction, and the workers on duty were defenseless and died on the spot.
The poisonous cloud is pervasive and life dissipates
Subsequently, a huge mushroom cloud bloomed over the pesticide factory, the poisonous gas spread in an instant, and countless residents who were still immersed in sleep were awakened, however, they could only struggle in the poisonous fog and die. The residents who reacted quickly rushed to the hospital, but lost their sight halfway, and the fierce attack of the poison gas made them unstoppable. The hospital was overwhelmed by an influx of wounded people, but doctors were helpless with the novel gas. The streets and alleys are full of corpses, and the entire city has turned into an incomparable hell under the attack of poisonous gas.
Immeasurable suffering
According to statistics, the Bhopal gas leak directly or indirectly caused the death of about 575,000 people and the disability of more than 200,000 people. Faced with such a large number of victims, the Indian government had no choice but to use the military to maintain order, collect the bodies collectively and cremate them en masse. However, India ended up receiving only hundreds of millions of dollars in "low-priced" compensation for the allegations against U.S. companies, which is indescribable compared to such huge casualties.
Blinding interests, breeding disasters
Exploring the reasons behind the Bhopal gas leak, it is not difficult to find that the root cause is the word profit. In the pursuit of profits, American capitalism has shifted dangerous links of production
Bringing to India seems to be handing over the risk to someone else, and you can sit back and enjoy it. India, a populous and predominantly agricultural country, has become a manufacturing base for developed countries with its cheap labor. It was this attraction that prompted United Carbide to establish a pesticide plant in Bhopal in 1969.
However, the existence of this pesticide factory hides dangers and disasters. It produces methyl isocyanates with a pungent odor, very low boiling point and volatility. This substance was used in mass murder in Nazi Germany and is now banned by several countries. However, the United States Union Carbide continues to use the substance in India for profit, ignoring the dangers. What is even more shocking is that the pesticide factory has a huge device that can store 45 tons of methyl isocyanate, becoming a "time bomb".
At first, the factory workers were unaware of the danger. However, over time, those who have been working in toxic environments for a long time begin to experience symptoms of blurred vision. However, this situation has not attracted enough attention. It was not until December 2, 1984, when the workers on duty noticed that the temperature of the storage device was abnormally high, it was too late to take action, and a violent chemical reaction occurred in front of them, causing many people to die on the spot.
Immediately afterwards, a huge mushroom cloud rose up, and the poisonous gas spread rapidly in the air. Many of the still sleeping residents were suddenly awakened, but they could not escape the threat of poison gas. Some of the quick residents rushed to the hospital, but lost their sight on the way, and the poison gas made it impossible to save themselves. The hospital was instantly full, but in the face of this new type of poisonous gas