On 3 December 1984, over 500,000 people in the vicinity of the Union Carbide India Limited pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India were exposed to the highly toxic gas methyl isocyanate, in what is considered the world's worst industrial disaster. [3] . Here is a timeline of events that followed the disaster at the plant: Bhopal Gas Tragedy 1984 December 3: Toxic methyl isocyanate gas leaks from the Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal , killing more than 3,500 people according to official figures. Poison clouds engulf the area surrounding the plant. Bhopal Gas Tragedy : How Did it Occur, What Were the Causes, Who Was Affected, What Action Was Taken, and Who Was Responsible? The Bhopal Gas Tragedy , which occurred on the night of December 2–3, 1984, in Bhopal, India, is one of the most devastating industrial disasters in history. The Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster (Processing of Claims) Act, 1985 came into force on 20.02.1985 including Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster (Registration and Processing of claims) Scheme, 1985.