New Delhi, April 10: The Delhi Government is gathering details about the “radiation leak” in a west Delhi industrial area and will decide about future course of action based on the findings, a top official said today.
“We are gathering details about the incident. It is a serious one concerning public health. Based on the findings we will take appropriate action,” the official said. Five persons were injured including one seriously when they came in contact with a radio active substance in Mayapuri area of West Delhi.
Union Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan said efforts to cut a lead container which was carrying a radioactive substance led to radiation.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, when asked about the incident, tried to pass the buck on the MCD, saying “it is the responsibility of the civic agency to keep the city clean.”
Panic was triggered in Mayapuri last night after the news of a radiation leak spread with five persons falling ill after coming in contact with a “mysterious shining object” in a scrap shop owned by one Deepak Jain.
Experts have identified the material as Cobalt-60. Scientists from the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Narora Atomic Power Station also scanned Mayapuri Industrial area this morning to examine whether there was any other source of a similar emission in the vicinity.
‘Scrap dealers must tell authorities’
The radioactive material found in a scrap market in west Delhi today prompted the government to think about a mechanism to ensure that detection of such substances is brought to notice of authorities.
“We should now plan some mechanism to ensure that scrap dealers report to authorities about detection of radioactive material found among scrap,” Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan said.
“The scrap dealer and his workers tried to break open a lead container to sell it off as scrap. This led to radiation,” he said. Radioactive material is normally packed in lead containers as it resists radiation.
-PTI