The verdict in the Bhopal Gas tragedy will be pronounced Monday nearly 26 years after the disastrous toxic leak from the Union Carbide Corporation’s now defunct pesticide plant killed over 3500 people.
Dec 3, 1984: Union Carbide India Ltd's (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal releases Methyl isocyanate. Around 800, 000 people exposed to the gas. According to government estimates, 15000 people died. Others passed on the harmful effects of the gas, genetically.
Dec 4, 1984: A case is registered against Union Carbide. The chairman Warren Anderson is arrested but later released on bail by the Madhya Pradesh police.
1985: India claims $3.3 billion from Union Carbide in an American court.
1989: Indian government and Union Carbide strike out-of-court deal, Union Carbide gives $ 470 million.
1992: Part of $ 470 million disbursed among victims. Anderson declared fugitive from law for ignoring court summons.
2001: Union Carbide refuses to take responsibility for former Indian arm's liabilities.
2004: Supreme Court orders government to pay out rest of $ 470 million paid by Union Carbide as compensation.
June 7, 2010: Finally, after more than 25 years, all eight accused held guilty by a local court in Bhopal.
First Published: Monday, June 07, 2010, 12:26