Which company was responsible for the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster in India?

Union Carbide was responsible for the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster in India. A pesticide plant operated by Union Carbide India Limited released methyl isocyanate gas in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, during the night of December 2–3, 1984.

Water entered a storage tank containing the highly reactive chemical, triggering a runaway reaction and a toxic gas release. Poor maintenance, disabled safety systems, and inadequate emergency planning worsened the disaster. Thousands died soon afterward, and many more suffered long-term health effects.

The plant was operated by Union Carbide India Limited, in which Union Carbide Corporation held a major stake. This distinction sometimes causes confusion: the disaster is commonly associated with Union Carbide, while the facility itself was a local subsidiary. In 2001, Dow Chemical acquired Union Carbide, but Dow was not the company operating the plant in 1984.