Madhya Pradesh State PCS

• 25 May 2024

Fire at Union Carbide Factory

Why in News?

Recently, a massive fire broke out at the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal. The factory is where methyl isocyanate gas leaked in 1984, killing thousands of people and disabling millions.

Key Points

• The fire was brought under control after about an hour. Its cause is yet to be ascertained.
• The locals expressed their fear about the potential effects of toxic smoke on their bodies.
• The factory was shut down after the 1984 gas tragedy.

Bhopal gas tragedy

• About:
  • The Bhopal gas tragedy was one of the worst industrial accidents in history that occurred on the night of 2-3 December 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, MP.
  • It exposed people and animals to the highly toxic gas methyl isocyanate (MIC), causing immediate and long-term health effects and deaths.
• Causes of Gas Leak:
  • The exact cause of the gas leak is still disputed between corporate negligence or employee sabotage. However, some of the factors that contributed to the disaster are:
    • The UCIL plant was storing large quantities of MIC, a highly reactive and volatile chemical, in poorly maintained tanks.
    • The plant was operating with reduced staff and safety standards due to financial losses and market competition.
    • The plant was located in a densely populated area with no proper emergency plans or warning systems for the nearby residents.
    • On the night of the disaster, a large amount of water entered one of the MIC storage tanks (E610), either due to a faulty valve or a deliberate act of sabotage by a disgruntled worker.
      • This triggered an exothermic reaction that increased the temperature and pressure inside the tank, causing it to rupture and release a large cloud of MIC gas into the atmosphere.

Heatstroke Kills Hundreds of Bats in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News?

According to the sources, Heatstroke has killed hundreds of bats in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• According to the deputy director (veterinary), approximately 250 bats died due to the heatstroke.
• He explained that bats are nocturnal creatures and typically seek refuge in their designated trees early in the morning.

Bats

• India is home to 135 bat species. Bats are nocturnal animals.
• Bats normally feed on fruits, helping in pollination by seed dispersal but also cause agricultural losses and hence are regarded as vermin.
• The population of bats has declined worldwide due to poaching, meat consumption, use in traditional medicines, climate change, environmental pollution, and biological invasions.