Timeline:
December 3, 1984: Shortly after midnight, MIC gas leaks from a tank at Bhopal’s UCIL plant. Several thousands die immediately, while lots more are injured.
December 4, 1984: News of the disaster reaches the Union Carbide headquarters in the USA. Chairman and CEO Warren Anderson leaves for India to assist the government in dealing with the disaster. Anderson is placed under house arrest and urged by the Indian government to leave the country within 24 hours.
December 14, 1984: Warren Anderson testifies before Congress. He promises to take steps to ensure that a similar incident doesn’t happen again.
March 1985 : Indian Government enacts the Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster Act that enables it to act as the legal representative of victims.
March 1986: Union Carbide proposes a settlement of $350 million to victims.
February 1989: The Supreme Court of India decides on a final settlement of $470 million to be paid by March 31, 1989. Government of India and Union Carbide accept.
February 1992: Anderson is declared as a fugitive by law for ignoring court summons.
2001: Union Carbide is bought by Dow Chemicals, a US-based company. They refuse to take responsibilities for the disaster.
August 2002: Charges of culpable homicide continue against Anderson by Indian court, which demands his extradition to stand trial.
June 2004: The United Statesrejects India’s request for Anderson’s extradition.
June 2010: Bhopal Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohan P Tiwari holds eight employees of Union Carbide guilty and sentences them to two years of imprisonment with fine. However, they are granted bail.
September 2014: Warren Anderson dies
November 2014: Five women survivors begin a waterless fast outside Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding additional compensation for survivors.
