The report “GoM to probe ‘whats and hows’ of the leak” (June15) shows the ignorance of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad about the Bhopal gas tragedy. The cause of the accident was investigated by Arthur Little at the behest of Union Carbide and Indian scientists appointed by the government. According to them, the accident was caused by water finding its way into the methyl isocyanate tank, triggering a chain reaction that released over 50,000 pounds of toxic gas from the tanks which exploded. Union Carbide claimed that this water seepage was sabotage, whereas the Indian investigation said it was inadvertent. The moot point is that the safety system, from keeping methyl isocyanate under refrigeration to providing air vents and an alarm system, had failed. It would be impossible to ferret out any new fact from a rusted plant 26 years after the accident. What is urgently required is medical care for the affected people, adequate compensation and cleaning up of the toxic wastes — the failure of which would serve as a constant reminder of government apathy and a symbol of the fine art of passing the buck.
M M Gurbaxani, Bangalore
