The Bhopal gas tragedy, considered the world’s worst industrial accident, occurred on night of December 2-3, 1984 at the Union Carbide India limited (UCIl) pesticide plant near Bhopal city in Madhya Pradesh. It was due to the leakage of harmful Methyle Isocyanate (MIC) gas and other poisonous gases. The toxic gas made its way in and around the shanty town and villages located near the plant. More than 5, 00,000 people were exposed to the gas, and about 25,000 people died. Eveready Industries India limited, ended clean-up on the site in 1998, and turned over control of the site to the Government of Madhya Pradesh. Dow Chemical Company purchased UCC in 2001, seventeen years after the disaster. The local site is yet to be free from contamination and the victims continue to suffer from ailing health and have not received the compensation as due to them. With the ever-rising human population, pollution has become a great concern. Pollution from human activities is a problem that does not have to be inevitable. With a comprehensive pollution prevention programme, most pollution can be reduced, controlled, or prevented. The Bhopal gas tragedy has been identified as the biggest industrial pollution disaster in the history worldwide. The day is being observed every year as National Pollution Control/Prevention Day in India and World Pollution Prevention Day in the world.

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