Union Carbide Waste Disposal: Two Hospitalised After Self-Immolation Attempt As Protests Continue In Pithampur

The people in Pithampur have been protesting against the relocation of the hazardous materials to the township due to concerns regarding the safety and environmental implications.

Tensions flared in Madhya Pradesh's Pithampur on Friday as two men attempted self-immolation during protests against the planned disposal of 337 tonnes of hazardous waste from Bhopal's Union Carbide factory.

Eyewitnesses said that the two men were part of a demonstration organised by 'Pithampur Bachao Samiti'. They doused themselves with a flammable liquid and tried to ignite it. However, their bid was swiftly thwarted by fellow protesters who stopped them by extinguishing the flames. The two men were then taken to a local hospital by police, news agency PTI reported.

The people in Pithampur have been protesting against the relocation of the hazardous materials to the township due to concerns regarding the safety and environmental implications. They are also claiming that the planned incineration of the Bhopl gas tragedy waste would harm local residents. Pithampur has a population of about 1.75 lakh and its industrial area has around 700 factories in three sectors.

Dhar Superintendent of Police Manoj Singh told PTI over the phone from a protest site near Pithampur bus stand that the situation is under control but tense. "The two men who attempted self-immolation were shifted from a local hospital to a private facility in Indore, where doctors confirmed they are out of danger," the SP said.

Several parts of the town witnessed protests through the day amid a bandh call by 'Pithampur Bachao Samiti' as a mob marched to the industrial unit where the waste is set to be incinerated. As part of the bandh call, the shops and markets remained closed. Another agitation saw the participation of children as well, PTI reported.

Dhar District Collector Priyank Mishra and SP Manoj Kumar Singh released two separate videos urging people to maintain calm and to not take law in their hands. They also said that the administration was ready to listen to their demands, stressing that the health of the people was paramount for the state government. However, they warned that action would be taken against those involved in disturbing peace.

Almost 40 years after the deadly gas tragedy in Bhopal which killed thousands, the authorities shifted 337 tonnes of waste from the Union Carbide factory to Pithampur for scientific disposal. However, it led to protests soon after the material reached an incineration unit in Pithampur on Thursday. A mob of neasrly 500-600 people marched to the Ramky Group's Industrial Waste Management Private Limited premises, where the waste incineration is set to take place, but police dispersed the crowd in time.

Meanwhile, heavy police deployment has been made in Pithampur to maintain law and order. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday addressed the protestors and asserted the waste was "not at all harmful".