Fire at Union Carbide Factory | Madhya Pradesh | 25 May 2024
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 | Madhya Pradesh | 25 May 2024
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.