In the decades following independence, the growing India pushed aggressively towards industrialization, welcoming MNCs and large scale manufacturing. In the early hours of December 3, 1984, that haste turned catastrophic. At a pesticide plant in central India, water entered a storage tank containing methyl isocyanate, a highly toxic and volatile industrial chemical. The reaction led to a massive release of poisonous gas into surrounding neighborhoods. Thousands died within hours. Survivors suffered lifelong respiratory illness, blindness, neurological damage, and birth defects. Statistics: 5,58,125 injuries, 16,000 deaths. This horrifying incident is often considered the world's worst industrial disaster, a stark reminder of the consequences of technological progress without adequate safety, regulation or accountability. Id the common name of the incident. [2-3 words]