Indian authorities have commenced the removal of hazardous waste from the site of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, one of the world’s deadliest industrial accidents. A total of 337 metric tons of toxic waste, transported in 12 secure containers, is being moved to a disposal facility in Pithampur, located 225 kilometers from Bhopal. The waste is scheduled to undergo incineration within the next nine months as part of efforts to mitigate the environmental damage caused by the disaster.

The leak of methyl isocyanate gas from the Union Carbide pesticide plant on December 3rd, 1984, caused the immediate deaths of over 5,000 people and left more than half a million others poisoned. The aftermath of the disaster has had long-term health and environmental repercussions for the local population, with significant contamination of groundwater in the region. Tests have shown chemicals in the groundwater at levels far exceeding safety limits, with some toxic substances linked to cancer and birth defects.

In December 2024, the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered the cleanup of the toxic waste, demanding it be completed within a month. The court raised concerns over the potential for further tragedy if action was delayed, questioning why the cleanup had not been prioritized earlier.