A suspected radioactive leak occurred on Sunday from a medical shipment at cargo terminal of Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, following which authorities have cordoned off the area. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has rushed its team to the spot.
“A call was received from the airport around 10.45 AM regarding suspected radioactive leak from medical equipment,” said Atul Garg, Chief Fire Officer. He said the equipment has come from Air France plane and was kept at the cargo terminal. Delhi Police says the leaked material is medicinal in nature.
The entire area has been cordoned off and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also been informed about the incident, Garg said. Teams from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are at the spot. According to ANI, seven fire tenders and a hazmat van have reached the spot. The area has been cordoned off.
PTI reports that there was no immediate response from Delhi airport authorities and Air France. “The area is 1.5 km away from passenger area and was evacuated and cordoned off,” police said.
A team of doctors from Medanta hospital has also been rushed to the spot. “From the initial update it appears that the material contains sodium molybdate. We are also analysing the contents of the pilferage,” officials said
More details awaited.
(With inputs from ANI/PTI)