The night that saw death rule Bhopal
It was on the midnight of December 2 and 3, 1984. On that dreadful night, death ruled the city of Bhopal. Thousands perished within a few hours. The dead lay strewn in the streets and alleys — they had collapsed while running for their lives — others died in their sleep unaware of the lethal cloud that silently crept upon them. Entire families lay dead. Death struck down countless unsuspecting men, women and children.
It was initially residents of Jai Prakash Colony, a settlement of about 800 houses, and the adjoining shanty towns that were the first victims of the poisonous gas escaping from the Union Carbide pesticide plant nearby. Around midnight, some residents woke up all of a sudden feeling suffocated and seized by a fit of coughing. As they opened their eyes, they felt an intense burning sensation. It was as if ground hot pepper had been sprinkled in their eyes setting them on fire. Unable to locate the cause of this sudden discomfort, they ran out of their houses into the open to catch some “fresh air” only to see a strange cloudy mass suspended above them, but there was no respite from the invisible flames that were searing their lungs and eyes.
Within a matter of moments, anyone who had not succumbed in his sleep was awake and running in all directions, wailing and shouting.
Instant panic had spread in the low-lying areas adjoining the Carbide plant. People rushed out of their doors. The crowd soon swelled on to the streets and the exodus led to a virtual stampede.
The leak of poisonous gas from the Union carbide plant was a result of multiple failure linked to the safety system. It has been concluded that there was a complete breakdown of all norms of safety procedures.
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