The Bhopal gas tragedy: a case study in industrial disaster and corporate accountability

Purpose To explore the actual condition of the city after the gas emission and the effects of the tragedy on the community nearby industry. Examine the roles and responsibilities of Union Carbide Corporation, its parent company and the Indian government in the disaster, highlighting failures in industrial safety, crisis management and post-tragedy justice. Evaluate the sufficiency and inadequacy of the financial compensation, legal judgement and rehabilitation given to the victims in terms of why monetary settlements alone could not heal the irreparable damage. Design/methodology/approach The research methodology for this study involves the use of secondary data from a broad spectrum of credible references, including academic journals, books, government websites and official reports. Data collection for this research will involve reviewing the literature and relevant archive records pertaining to the subject matter of the research study. This secondary data then is analysed systematically, categorized and synthesized to satisfy the objectives of the research. It then adopts a methodology that guarantees sound foundations for the study using established information to derive significant insights and conclusions without making primary data collection. Findings The findings of this paper reveal the devastating and long-lasting impact of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy on both the environment and the affected communities. The gas leak caused immediate death, widespread illness and long-term health issues such as respiratory diseases and birth defects. Union Carbide’s negligence, along with its parent company’s lack of oversight and the Indian government’s failure to enforce safety regulations, played significant roles in the disaster. In addition, the financial compensation and rehabilitation efforts were found to be insufficient, leaving victims with unresolved health, psychological and social challenges, highlighting the inadequacy of monetary settlements in addressing the full extent of the tragedy. Originality/value This paper offers an original analysis of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy by examining its long-term impact on the environment and community, highlighting corporate and government accountability and evaluating the sufficiency of compensation and rehabilitation efforts. It provides fresh insights into the inadequacies of post-tragedy responses and their lasting effects on victims.