DHAR: Two persons attempted self-immolation, flaring tensions in Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh on Friday as protests against the planned disposal of 337 tonnes of hazardous waste from Union Carbide continued.

Protests in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, erupted over the planned disposal of 337 tonnes of toxic waste from the Bhopal gas tragedy. Authorities imposed prohibitory orders to manage the tensions. The situation remains tense,

Pithampur residents and business owners protest the proposed disposal of hazardous Union Carbide waste, asserting their commitment to environmental safety amid ongoing demonstrations.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court had on December 3 rebuked the authorities for not clearing the Union Carbide site in Bhopal despite court directives, including that of the Supreme Court

Shops and markets in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, closed in protest against the disposal of Union Carbide waste in the town. Despite police managing demonstrations, locals are concerned about potential health and environmental impacts.

A court in December had set a four-week deadline for the waste to be disposed. On Wednesday, the toxic waste - around 337 tonnes - was taken from the Union Carbide factory in the central Indian city of Bhopal to an incinerator facility around 230km (143 miles) away.

Bhopal's toxic legacy, tied to the 1984 industrial disaster, has haunted the city for decades. The hazardous waste, stored for years at the Union Carbide factory, is now being moved for safe disposal to Pithampur.