IAEA asks India to account for radioactive material accident

VIENNA - The UN nuclear watchdog Saturday demanded an explanation from India for a fatal accident involving radioactive material.

A scrap dealer died of radioactive poisoning after he dismantled a plant from a chemistry laboratory of Delhi University. Several other workers received treatment due to radiation.

International Atomic Energy Agency spokesman Marc Vidricaire said the Indian authorities should have ensured the security of radioactive material.

This case showed again that the disposal of hazardous material was usually uncontrolled in India. Thus, chemicals and radioactive waste were sold to scrap dealers, Xinhua reported citing the Austrian Press Agency, which quoted the official as saying.