Bhopal: Two men attempted self-immolation during a protest against the transportation of hazardous waste from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal to Pithampur, Dhar district, on Friday.
Reports suggest one protester poured petrol over himself and set himself ablaze. Others, including police and fellow protesters, acted swiftly to extinguish the fire. During the rescue, another individual suffered burns while trying to save him. Both injured men were rushed to Dhar District Hospital, where one has been admitted to the ICU for critical care.
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Following the incident, police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the protesters. Despite this, demonstrations continued at multiple locations surrounding the Pithampur dumping site. Protesters are demanding the containers carrying toxic waste be sent back to Bhopal.
Locals called for a bandh (shutdown) in solidarity with the protest. Many shops in the area were closed as a mark of protest.
The state government defended its decision, stating the Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF) at Pithampur is the only site in Madhya Pradesh equipped for such hazardous waste disposal. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav criticised opposition parties for politicising the issue, saying "Those who are politicising the issue for vote bank should remember that when the Bhopal gas tragedy occurred in 1984, they were in power."
Background
As many as 12 container trucks carrying 377 metric tonnes of hazardous chemical waste from Bhopal reached Pithampur early on January 2. These remain parked at the premises of the Ramki factory in the Ashapura area of Pithampur.
The protest, which began a few days ago, intensified on Friday as more people joined the demonstrations, expressing concerns about the potential health and environmental risks posed by the disposal of such waste.
Published: 03 Jan 2025, 05:00 pm IST
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