Four decades after the infamous Bhopal gas tragedy, the hazardous waste from the now-defunct Union Carbide factory was finally moved for disposal to a facility in Dhar district on Wednesday night.
The 377 tons of toxic waste, which had lingered on-site since the disaster, were transported in 12 sealed container trucks through a green corridor, a special route designated for this purpose.
The trucks made the 250-kilometre journey from Bhopal to the Pithampur industrial area in Dhar, escorted under tight security. The journey, which began at around 9 p.m., concluded at approximately 4.30 a.m. on Thursday.
Dhar Superintendent of Police, Manoj Singh, confirmed the trucks had arrived at the disposal facility, where the waste will be incinerated.
"Nearly 100 personnel worked in 30-minute shifts from Sunday onwards to pack and load the toxic waste into trucks. They underwent health check-ups and were provided rest at regular intervals," said Swatantra Kumar Singh, Director of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department.
Also read: Bhopal begins process to remove Union Carbide's toxic waste
The waste, which includes methyl isocyanate (MIC), the gas responsible for the 1984 disaster, will be disposed of at Pithampur after an incineration process.
The incineration will be conducted under the supervision of experts from the Central and State Pollution Control Boards.
The first round of disposal will be followed by a thorough analysis of the residue to ensure no toxic remnants remain.
The disposal process was prompted by a ruling from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which had rebuked authorities for failing to act on previous Supreme Court orders to clear the Union Carbide site.
The court issued a four-week deadline for the disposal to be completed, warning of contempt proceedings if ignored.
"The waste will be incinerated within three months, provided everything goes as planned. Otherwise, it may take up to nine months," Singh explained.
He also noted that the incineration will be conducted with special filters to prevent air pollution, and any remaining ash will be buried after thorough testing.
Despite assurances from authorities, the decision has sparked protests in Pithampur, with many local residents raising concerns over the potential environmental impact.
Activists allege that a previous trial incineration in 2015 led to the pollution of local soil and water sources. Singh dismissed these claims, assuring that the disposal facility’s safety protocols have been rigorously assessed.
What happened in Bhopal 40 years ago?
The Bhopal gas tragedy, one of the world's worst industrial disasters, occurred on the night of 2–3 December 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Over 500,000 people in nearby towns were exposed to the highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas.
Estimates on the death toll from the Bhopal gas tragedy vary. Official figures list 2,259 immediate deaths, with the Madhya Pradesh government compensating 3,787 victims' families in 2008.
Over 558,000 were injured, including 38,478 with temporary injuries and about 3,900 permanently disabled. Some estimate that 8,000 died within two weeks, with another 8,000 or more dying later from gas-related diseases.
Follow us
