Date of one of the worst industrial disasters in history

In 1984, a U.S.-owned Union Carbide chemical plant in Bhopal, India, released tons toxic gas into the air. Between 3,500 and 7,500 died within days of the disaster, killing at least 15,000 more and poisoning many more in the weeks, months and years that followed.

Due to negligence found at the plant and in Union Carbide security protocols, the company, U.S. government and Indian government were involved in lengthy litigation to bring aid, relief and compensation to the victims of this tragedy.

Learn more about the tragedy from Bhopal.com (run by Union Carbide, owned by DOW Chemical since 2001), and from The History Channel.