Emergency Whistle at Carbide Plant Tested for First Time

Officials Wednesday conducted the first test of an emergency whistle at the Union Carbide Corp. plant here, where production of methyl isocyanate was suspended after the chemical killed at least 2,000 persons in India.

Officials said the steam whistle was heard up to six miles away. But some residents nearby said they heard nothing, and others said they had trouble telling the whistle from other sounds at the sprawling plant.

Carbide Chairman Warren Anderson has said the plant, the only domestic manufacturer of methyl isocyanate, will resume producing the chemical in April.