Panic in Bhopal Over fresh Gas leak

NK SINGH

Bhopal: Poisonous gas and acid fumes leaked again from the "killer Carbide pesticide plant here on Thursday and Monday. causing widespread panic in the city of the dead. Hundreds of panic-stricken residents of shanty towns surrounding the pesticide plant. which leaked toxic methyl iso-cyanate gas last December killing about 2500 persons. Ailed for safety on Thursday night and again on Monday morning following the leak of chlorine and chlorosulphuric acid fumes.

A spokesman of the multi-national Union Carbide said the "minor leak" of chlorine. which occurred around 9 p.m. on Thursday, was immediately controlled with the help of water jets, which were swiftly turned on to neutralise the leaking gas.

Three workers of the plant. including a supervisor who was admitted for first aid in the carbide dispensary on the plant premises. The leak also affected the functioning of the neighbouring railway cabin whose staff fled in panic, Fortunately, no train passed through the track while the cabin remained unmanned for about half an hour.

According to a note made in the daily diary of 'D' cabin on the Ujjain line on March 28 "at about 8.55 pm all the cabin staff smelt gas, our eves started burning and we had a choking sensation. All the cabin staff left the cabin and stayed on the road for 30 minutes. Then we felt better and returned to the cabin at 9:45 pm. A doctor was called at 9.50 pm. The entry has been made by the shift in charge. Mr R. P. Verma.

A Union Carbide spokesman said about 100 tonnes of chlorine. lying in the main storage tank of the plant. was being transferred to tankers for sale as the factory had been closed down". The tank is "being emptied under vacuum pressure and leaks are not unknown under this process". he said.

People, he said, got unnecessarily panicky when a small leak took place. About 80 tonnes of chlorine had already been transferred from the tank:

The leak understandingly caused widespread panic in the surrounding areas as residents felt burning in the eyes. suffocation and coughing. Hundreds fled the locality.

On Monday morning people again started fleeing in panic as they saw strange clouds over the carbide plant. The clouds a union carbide official later explained to the police. party which had hastened to the spot, were caused by rainwater leaking in acid drums. Bhopal had witnessed a heavy downpour on Sunday night.

According to an entry made in the diary of the Hanumanganj police station, the security staff of Union Carbide told the investigations officer that the fumes were caused by the reaction of rainwater falling on an acid plant. The Superintendent, Mr Agnihotri, assured the police party that it was not a gas and the leak had already been plugged.

Huge quantities of acids like chloro sulphuric, are lying in drums in the plant, uncared for. Besides chlorine. which can also cause damage to the lungs if inhaled in excess. about 10.000 litres of chloroform is also lying in the plant.

Indian Express

April 1, 1985