The disaster by American company Union Carbide in Bhopal in 1984 left thousands dead. After 40 years, the process to dispose of the waste in Pithampur has started but locals are protesting with two men setting themselves on fire.

According to legal experts, the UCC plant structure is likely to remain intact as long as the petitions in various courtsótrial court, High Court, and Supreme Courtóare pending. As a result, the state government may face significant legal hurdles if it attempts to dismantle the plant structure in the same manner as the removal of chemical waste.

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.

Madhya Pradesh police filed five cases against protesters in Pithampur, Dhar district, opposing the incineration of toxic waste from the Bhopal disaster. Protests led to prohibitory orders. Two attempted self-immolation,

Locals in Madhya Pradesh's Pithampur are protesting against the disposal of chemical waste from Bhopal's Union Carbide plant after which, police resorted to lathi-charge.