Protests to stop the decomposition of Bhopal gas tragedy hazardous waste in Pithampur have turned into a tragedy after two men caught fire while they were registering their demands by pouring petrol over their bodies in Madhya Pradesh.
The video of the incident widely circulated on social media platforms, which shows that two men allegedly poured petrol over their bodies while raising slogans “nahi jalega”— waste from the Bhopal gas tragedy that was transported 230 kilometers away from the state capital for decomposition after the Madhya Pradesh High Court order.
The protests were organized by “Pithampur Bachao Samiti.” According to reports on Friday, when there were hundreds of people protesting, two men poured petrol. As they poured petrol, someone ignited the fire, which led to the incident.
ऐसी – शरारत, मजाक या षड्यंत्र कितना खतरनाक हो सकता है! ये लोग पीथमपुर में भोपाल के यूनियन कार्बाइड के जहरीले कचरे को जलाने का विरोध कर रहे थे 2 युवकों ने पेट्रोल छिड़का लेकिन किसी ने पीछे से आग लगा दी दोनों की हालत गंभीर है@manishndtv @GargiRawat @alok_pandey @hridayeshjoshi pic.twitter.com/OEb7XepCAR
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Due to the swift actions of fellow protesters, they were saved and rushed to a nearby hospital where they are undergoing treatment. Notably, the Bhopal gas tragedy’s hazardous waste was finally being transported on Wednesday night to a disposal plant in Pithampur, 230 km away from the state capital, after the Madhya Pradesh High Court asked, “Are you waiting for another tragedy?”
The convoy, comprising 40 vehicles and 337 metric tons of toxic waste, left Bhopal under heavy security, with police and emergency vehicles escorting it along a green corridor.
