Two men were taken to the hospital after they set themselves on fire during a protest in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh. The protest was against the plan to burn 337 tonnes of dangerous waste from the Union Carbide factory. Eyewitnesses reported that the protesters poured a flammable liquid on themselves before lighting themselves on fire.
The town was quiet, with shops and markets closed as people joined the protest organized by the ‘Pithampur Bachao Samiti.’ They believe that burning the waste will harm the local people and the environment. Pithampur, located about 30 km from Indore, has a population of around 175,000 and is home to about 700 factories.
The waste being protested has a troubling history. In 1984, a toxic gas leak from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal killed at least 5,479 people and left many suffering from serious health problems. The authorities recently moved 337 tonnes of this waste to Pithampur for disposal, but it sparked protests as people are worried about safety.
During the bandh (a form of protest), some protesters blocked roads near Eicher Motors, but police officers managed to clear the way quickly. Sandeep Raghuvanshi has been on hunger strike since Thursday, asking for help against the waste disposal. Many people have supported him.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently criticized the government for not cleaning up the Union Carbide site in Bhopal, even after many orders, and gave them four weeks to remove the waste. The court warned that action would be taken if they didn’t follow through.
In response to the protests, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that the waste is mostly mud and is not harmful, urging people not to make this issue political. Heavy police presence has been established in Pithampur to keep everything calm
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