800 shops in west Delhi scrap market scanned

Experts have scanned all the 800 shops in a west Delhi scrap market from where ten sources of radioactive Cobalt-60 was recovered leaving seven persons exposed to radiation.

B. B. Bhattacharya, senior member of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and former BARC Director, said the expert team from Department of Atomic Energy had scanned all the shops in Mayapuri market where the radiation leak had injured seven persons.

“They have checked all the shops. They have found nothing new. NDMA cannot say that the market is now radiation— free. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is the competent authority to say so,” he told PTI.

During examinations, he said, the experts also found some radiation in soil and it was collected. “This will be disposed off properly by the experts,” Mr. Bhattacharya said.

Two more sources of radiation were detected in the Mayapuri scrap market in the city on Tuesday night where Cobalt-60 was recovered, taking the total sources of radioactive substance found in the industrial area to 10.

Eight sources of Cobalt-60 were recovered last week after six persons were admitted to city hospitals with burn injuries caused due to radiation.