Union Carbide, India Ordered to Settle Bhopal Case
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BHOPAL, India — A judge Monday ordered the Indian government and Union Carbide Corp. to reach an out-of-court settlement by Oct. 30 in connection with the December, 1984, Bhopal gas leak that killed more than 2,000 people.
Judge M. W. Deo said in Bhopal District Court that he was issuing the order because both parties had indicated they wished “a just and overall settlement.”
Hearings in the complex case began a year ago. Deo said hearings will resume if an agreement is not reached by the specified date.
India is suing Union Carbide for $3 billion as compensation for victims of the Dec. 3, 1984, gas leak at the U.S.-based multinational pesticide plant in Bhopal.
About 40 tons of toxic methyl isocyanate gas spewed from an underground tank at the plant and spread across a large area. Officials estimate that 300,000 people were affected in some way.
India says the gas leak resulted from negligence, while Union Carbide claims it was caused by sabotage.
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