NEW DELHI, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of local residents, including women, children and elders, gathered in Pithampur industrial town of India's central state Madhya Pradesh on Friday to protest against the disposal of nearly 330 tons of toxic chemical waste that had been lying inside a factory in state capital Bhopal for over 40 years after a gas-leak tragedy.

The toxic waste was shifted on Wednesday night, and it reached Pithampur on Thursday morning where it was planned to be incinerated.

Pacifying the protesters, local officials told them that the disposal process would be carried out in a transparent manner after taking the local residents and other stakeholders in confidence.

According to state government sources, the toxic waste was from the 1984's deadly "Bhopal Gas Tragedy", which killed thousands of people in Bhopal after highly toxic Methyl Isocyanate gas leaked from the factory on the intervening night of Dec. 2 and 3.

Besides, hundreds of thousands of people developed physical disabilities and other serious health issues like asthma and lung diseases subsequent to the gas tragedy, which is still described as one of the worst tragedies of its kind in the country's history.

As the trucks containing the toxic waste arrived in Pithampur area, nearly 30 km away from Indore city which is often described as one of the cleanest cities in India, hundreds of people gathered at various places to protest against the disposal of the toxic waste, fearing it could adversely affect their health.

According to media reports, the state government transferred the waste to Pithampur for disposal after the Madhya Pradesh High Court set a four-week deadline for the issue.

During the protests, two men tried to self-immolate, thus receiving burn injuries. They were rushed to a local hospital for medical treatment.

The local police had to use water cannons and batons to disperse the protesters as they marched towards the spot where the toxic waste was to be disposed. Enditem

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