Condition of four radiation victims improves, two still critical

NEW DELHI - The condition of four of the six people who suffered severe burns after being exposed to radioactive material Cobalt 60 at a scrap market here is showing signs of improvement even as the remaining two continue to be in a critical state, doctors said Monday.

Scrap metal dealer Deepak Jain is battling for life at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital while five others — Gaurav, Rajendra Prasad, Ramjee Yadav, Ram Kalap and Himanshu Jain — have been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

“There is no change in the condition of Deepak Jain. He continues to be in a very critical state,” a spokesperson of the Indraprastha Apollo hospital said.

Jain’s body turned black after he touched the material, according to eyewitnesses.

AIIMS Medical Superintendent D.K. Sharma said Prasad’s condition continues to be serious.

“The other four are showing signs of improvement,” he told IANS.

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) received information from the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital April 9 that Jain was showing symptoms of suspected exposure to radiation.

The Crisis Management Group in the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was activated and officers from DAE and AERB were sent to New Delhi with a wide range of radiation monitoring and detecting equipment for prompt identification and recovery of the radioactive pieces and their safe disposal.