Overview
Bhopal gas tragedy lawsuits form India’s landmark industrial-disaster case. On December 2–3, 1984, a methyl isocyanate leak at Union Carbide India’s Bhopal plant killed thousands and injured hundreds of thousands (per reporting). The Government of India and Union Carbide settled in 1989 for US$470 million, and criminal proceedings later convicted UCIL executives of negligence (per Supreme Court Observer and CESR). In 2023 the Indian Supreme Court rejected a plea to increase the compensation (per Supreme Court Observer). The matter is closed; we keep the case as a landmark reference with no new intake.
Status of the science / claims: The disaster released methyl isocyanate gas, causing mass casualties; causation and compensation were addressed through the 1989 settlement and later judicial review (per Supreme Court Observer and reporting).
Companies involved
Settlement amounts
1989 settlement: US$470 million paid to victims’ fund (per reporting). The Indian Supreme Court rejected an additional-compensation plea in 2023 (per Supreme Court Observer). The matter is closed; no amount can be promised.
Key dates
- January 1, 2023Indian Supreme Court rejects the Union’s plea to increase compensation (per Supreme Court Observer)
- June 7, 2010Criminal conviction of UCIL chairman and others for negligence (per CESR)
- February 14, 1989India and Union Carbide settle for US$470 million (per reporting)
- December 3, 1984MIC gas leak at Union Carbide’s Bhopal plant kills thousands (per reporting)
Updates
- Updated Jan 1, 2023New case (Sep 2026, IN): Bhopal gas tragedy (1984) — 1989 US$470M settlement; UCIL executives convicted (2010); Indian Supreme Court rejected extra compensation (2023).
Notable filings
No notable filings recorded yet. Docket entries are added from public court records as they appear.
FAQ
What happened in Bhopal?
A methyl isocyanate gas leak at Union Carbide India’s Bhopal plant on December 2–3, 1984 killed thousands and injured hundreds of thousands — one of the worst industrial disasters in history (per reporting).
How much did Union Carbide pay?
The 1989 settlement provided US$470 million to a victims’ fund (per reporting); the Indian Supreme Court rejected a plea for additional compensation in 2023 (per Supreme Court Observer).
Were executives convicted?
Yes — UCIL’s chairman and several senior officials were convicted of negligence in 2010 (per CESR).
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