One Night in Bhopal

The Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984 was one of the world’s most devastating industrial disasters and remains a cautionary tale about the importance of safety regulations. It occurred when methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a pesticide plant, killing 3,787 people almost immediately and causing many further illnesses and related deaths over the years. In this film, the effects of that tragic event are examined from the perspectives of five local people who were present at the time.

One young worker at the factory recounts how he survived only because he was wearing an oxygen mask. Other eyewitnesses include doctors who attempted to treat patients and a police superintendent who helped to restore calm after thousands of people in the town had been killed. Throughout One Night in Bhopal, the filmmakers seek to explain how six safety measures either malfunctioned or were shut down prior to the release of the toxic gas.