Probe begins into radioactive material accident

NEW DELHI - Scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, rushed to the capital Friday to probe the incident in which a radioactive substance caused burn-like injuries to four people in west Delhi, police said.

The substance was isolated and the area cordoned off. The prime minister and home ministry have been informed, they added.

Four people suffered burn-like injuries after coming in contact Thursday with the radioactive material in a scrap market in Mayapuri area.

Officials from the disaster management authority and a team of scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, were Friday flown in to probe the incident, police said.

“The experts from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre will visit the industrial area. The scientists confirmed that it was a radioactive material and they have isolated it,” Ajay Kashyap, joint commissioner of police-West Delhi, told IANS.

Experts suspect that the radioactive substance is Cobalt-60. The situation was under control and no further impact on residents was likely, they added.

“Around half a kilometre of the area has been sealed as a precautionary measure, but public has not been evacuated from the area,” Kashyap added.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Sharad Aggarwal said the home ministry and prime minister’s office “are being kept in the loop about all developments in the case”.