Prose comprehension

Prose comprehension

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow

         Thirty-three years ago, on the night of December 2, 1984, Bhopal was hit by a catastrophe that had no parallel in the world’s industrial history. An accident at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal had released almost 30 tons of a highly toxic gas called methyl isocyanate, turning the city into a vast gas chamber. The result was a nightmare; more than 600,000 people were exposed to the deadly gas cloud that left thousands dead and many more breathless, blind and in agonizing pain. Few people know that during the Bhopal gas tragedy a heroic stationmaster risked his own life to save others.  He did not know that poisonous fumes leaking from Union Carbide’s pesticide factory were stealthily enveloping the railway station. Twenty-three of his railway colleagues, including his boss, station superintendent Harish Dhurve, had already died.  The jam-packed Gorakhpur- Kanpur Express was already standing at the platform and its departure time was 20 minutes away. Listening to his gut instinct, Dastagir summoned his staff and told them to immediately clear the train for departure. When they asked if they should wait until the order to do so came from the head office, Dastagir replied that he would take complete responsibility for the train’s early departure. Ghulam Dastagir’s devotion to duty and presence of mind saved the lives of hundreds of people.

Questions

1. When did the Bhopal gas tragedy happen?

2. What was the reason for the tragedy?

3. Why could Ghulam not get any help from his colleagues?

4. How did he save the people?

5. Which qualities of Ghulam saved people?

Answers

1. The tragedy happened on the night of December 2, 1984.

2. The Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal had released almost 30 tons of a highly toxic gas called methyl isocyanate. This is the reason for the tragedy.

3. Twenty-three of his railway colleagues, including his boss, station superintendent Harish Dhurve, had already died. So he could not seek any help from his colleagues.

4. Dastagir summoned his staff and told them to immediately clear the Gorakhpur- Kanpur Express for departure. Hence, hundreds of people were saved.

5. Ghulam Dastagir’s devotion to duty and presence of mind saved the lives of hundreds of people.