Protesters in Pithampur Attempt Suicide Over Union Carbide Waste Disposal, CM Yadav Blames Congress
Click to start listening
Bhopal/Pithampur, Jan 3 (NationPress) Two individuals attempted to take their own lives during a demonstration opposing the movement of dangerous waste from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal to Pithampur, located in the Dhar district, on Friday.
Reports indicate that one protester poured petrol on himself and ignited it. Quick action from police and other demonstrators helped extinguish the flames, although another individual who tried to assist him also sustained burn injuries.
Both injured individuals were transported to the Dhar district hospital for medical attention, with one being admitted to the ICU.
In response to the incident, police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.
Despite the crackdown, protests continue at multiple sites near the Pithampur waste disposal area, with demonstrators demanding the return of the containers filled with toxic waste to Bhopal.
Dilip Singh Raghuvanshi, a local activist, stated: "We urge the state government to send back the toxic waste containers to Bhopal. My protest will persist until all 12 containers are removed from our area."
The state government asserts that the Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) in Pithampur is the only appropriate site for chemical waste disposal in the region. However, the protests, which began a few days ago, gained momentum on Friday as more locals joined in.
Community members called for a 'Bandh' (shutdown) as a form of protest, closing their businesses in solidarity. A local shopkeeper explained, "The reason we shut our shops is due to the 40-year-old toxic waste from Bhopal being brought to Pithampur for disposal. We won't allow this waste to be incinerated here; we stand with the Pithampur residents."
In the meantime, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav criticized the Congress party, accusing them of exploiting the situation for political purposes.
"Those politicizing this issue for votes should remember that they were in power during the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984," remarked Mohan Yadav.
It’s noteworthy that 12 container trucks carrying 377 metric tonnes of hazardous chemical waste from Bhopal arrived in Pithampur early on January 2 and are currently stationed at the Ramki factory premises in the Ashapura area of Dhar district.
