National
Trial Incineration of 10 Tons of Waste from Bhopal Gas Tragedy Initiated
According to officials and experts, the waste has been divided into smaller bags, each containing 9 kg—split into 4.5 kg of waste and 4.5 kg of chemicals, ensuring controlled incineration.
The heating of the incinerator began around 10 pm on Thursday, requiring nearly 12 hours to reach a necessary temperature of approximately 850 degrees Celsius for effective waste combustion. To maintain this temperature, around 400 liters of diesel need to be consumed per hour.
The hazardous waste comprises soil from the factory site, reactor residues, pesticide remnants, naphthol residues, and semi-processed residues, as reported by the state government. Experts assured that the gas, solid particles, chemicals, and water produced after the incineration will be disposed of methodically. The remaining ash will subsequently be securely buried at a landfill site.
Security measures at the disposal site have been amplified, with 500 personnel deployed from 24 police stations to ensure safety during the procedure. Senior officials from both police and civic administration are supervising the operation.
The trial incineration was initiated following the Supreme Court’s decision on February 27, which refused to intervene in the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s directive for the hazardous waste to be transported and disposed of at the private facility in Pithampur. The apex court noted that a committee of experts—including representatives from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), along with officials from the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB)—was monitoring the waste transportation and disposal process.
On February 18, Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Vivek Jain of the Madhya Pradesh High Court mandated that the first trial incineration of the 10 tons of waste should take place within the frameworks of safety regulations. Should there be no adverse outcomes, subsequent tests are scheduled for March 4 and March 10, with detailed reports to be submitted to the court by March 27.
Indore Division Commissioner Deepak Singh confirmed that the incineration started at 3 pm on Friday, in line with the court’s decision. He emphasized that the facility is equipped with an automatic shutdown feature to cease operations if emissions exceed safety thresholds.
According to Dhar Collector Priyank Mishra, the waste disposal process adheres to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) established by the Central and State Pollution Control Boards, as per the high court’s orders. The incineration is also being broadcast live to the public outside the disposal plant in Pithampur.
The waste, which many still consider dangerous and toxic, had been housed in 12 specialized container trucks at the incineration facility for the last 57 days. The containers were packed on January 1 and transported from Bhopal to Pithampur, approximately 250 km away, arriving on January 2. The MP High Court had previously set a deadline of four weeks from December 3, 2024, to ensure the removal of toxic waste from the Bhopal site.
Protests erupted in Pithampur and surrounding areas shortly after news broke of the waste disposal. Citizens voiced concerns regarding potential health risks and fears of soil and water contamination associated with the incineration.
However, the Madhya Pradesh government, including Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, has consistently maintained that the waste is no longer hazardous. On January 6, the MP High Court granted the state government an additional six weeks to address public concerns and ensure safe disposal of the Bhopal gas tragedy waste.
Official reports state that about 5,500 people died and half a million were harmed during the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, resulting from the leak of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal on the night of December 2 and 3, 1984. Activists, however, argue that the death toll is closer to 15,000, with many survivors facing ongoing disabilities and long-term health issues from gas exposure. This incident is considered one of the worst industrial disasters in history.
The unfortunate incident occurred just 20 meters from Kedarnath while the helicopter was landing. Thankfully, the pilot emerged uninjured; an AIIMS spokesperson confirmed that the helicopter was there to retrieve a seriously ill patient. According to the AIIMS PRO, the crash took place during the landing process.
Although the helicopter’s tail rotor sustained damage, there were no injuries, and the pilot, along with one additional passenger on board, was safely rescued.
It’s noteworthy that the ‘Sanjeevani’ heli ambulance service for AIIMS Rishikesh was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 29, 2024. This marked the launch of the country’s first heli ambulance service for AIIMS, which was introduced online from Delhi alongside several health projects valued over ₹12,800 crore.
In September 2022, former Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had revealed plans for the heli ambulance at AIIMS Rishikesh. The service operates under a partnership between the Centre and the Uttarakhand government, each contributing 50 percent.
This helicopter crash isn’t the only incident during the ongoing Chardham pilgrimage in 2025; on May 8, another helicopter en route to Gangotri crashed near Gangani, resulting in the tragic loss of six lives, including five women.
The arrested individuals are Rahul Singh alias Kalu (20) from Thathi Sohal, Tarn Taran; Gurmukh Singh (21) from Sudhar Rajputan village, Amritsar; and Varinderpal Singh (32) from Akalgarh Dhaphian village, Amritsar.
DGP Yadav noted that two FIRs under the NDPS Act have been filed at Police Stations Gate Hakima and PS Verka. Investigations are ongoing to identify all connections within the smuggling ring.
Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, provided details of the first operation, stating that CIA-2 police teams arrested Rahul alias Kalu, recovering 510 grams of heroin and ₹30.18 lakh in cash, along with a counting machine from his residence in Anand Vihar, Amritsar. Initial investigations suggest that Rahul was in contact with a foreign-based drug smuggler named Tony German and was distributing heroin locally after receiving shipments across the border. A case (FIR No. 117, dated 16-05-2025) has been registered at Police Station Gate Hakima under sections 21-C and 25 of the NDPS Act.
In a separate operation, CP Bhullar reported the arrest of Gurmukh Singh and Varinderpal Singh by the Police Station Verka team. They were found with 500 grams of heroin, ₹15.19 lakh in drug proceeds, and a camera-equipped toy drone. The duo had created a concealed locker in a bed-box at a house in Akalgarh, where drug money was stored. The drone was reportedly being used for practice purposes.
Ongoing investigations may lead to further arrests and recoveries in the coming days. A case (FIR No. 40, dated 14-5-2025) has been filed under Sections 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Verka in Amritsar.
National
MEA Denies Rahul Gandhi’s Claim Regarding Jaishankar Briefing Pakistan on ‘Operation Sindoor’
The MEA’s XP Division stated, “The EAM indicated that we warned Pakistan at the beginning, which pertains to the early phase following the commencement of Operation Sindoor. This has been misrepresented as happening before the operation began, and we are calling out this erroneous portrayal.”
The MEA’s clarification came on the heels of Mr. Gandhi’s assertion that Jaishankar had committed a “crime” by allegedly notifying Pakistan in advance of the airstrikes.
Mr. Gandhi shared a video on his WhatsApp channel where Jaishankar is quoted saying, “At the start of the operation, we sent a message to Pakistan, informing them that we were targeting terrorist infrastructure and not military assets. Hence, the military had the option to stand down and avoid interference.”
In response, Gandhi commented on X: “Informing Pakistan at the beginning of our attack was a crime. EAM has publicly admitted this. 1. Who authorized it? 2. How many aircraft did our Air Force lose as a result?”
However, the government has dismissed these allegations as misleading. The Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) clarified that no admission was made by the EAM. Additionally, PIB denied claims that Jaishankar suggested Chinese satellites assisted Pakistan during its military standoff with India.
This political exchange follows Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory measure in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.
AIIMS Helicopter Ambulance Crashes in Kedarnath; Pilot Unharmed, No Injuries Reported
Three Arrested with 1.01 kg of Heroin and ₹45.19 Lakh in Drug Money in Amritsar
MEA Denies Rahul Gandhi’s Claim Regarding Jaishankar Briefing Pakistan on ‘Operation Sindoor’
“Hidden Love” Spin-Off “The First Frost” Now Streaming on Netflix
Kim Sae-ron, South Korean Actress, Passes Away at 24 — Cause of Death Disclosed
UP Government Unveils Landmark ₹8.08 Lakh Crore Budget for 2025-26
-
National15 hours agoChadian National Detained at Mumbai Airport with Gold Valued at ₹3.86 Crore Concealed in Slippers
-
National17 hours agoOccupancy Capacity of Howrah-Puri Vande Bharat Express Boosted with Additional Coaches
-
National12 hours agoGovernment to Introduce Digital Platform for E-Filing in Trade Remedy Investigations
-
Sports19 hours agoCricket West Indies Advocates for Inclusion Pathways for Its Nations in the Olympics
-
National19 hours agoSmartphones Drive Jharkhand’s Anganwadi Transformation
-
Entertainment9 hours agoBillie Eilish Calls Out AI Misinformation: “I Was in Europe, Not at the Met Gala!”
-
National11 hours agoVice President Dhankhar likens Operation Sindoor to the U.S. operation that led to Osama bin Laden’s capture.
-
Sports8 hours agoSwami Vivekananda Men’s U20 NFC: Mizoram, Tripura, and Maharashtra Compete for Group D Top Position