Two killed in BARC laboratory fire

Two persons were burnt to death in a fire that broke out in a chemical laboratory in the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre at Trombay, Mumbai, on Wednesday.

Spectroscopic equipment are kept in the laboratory located on the third floor of a building.

BARC Director and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Srikumar Banerjee called it a “sad event.” “We are checking all the points” on what caused the fire. “I don’t know how this can happen,” because no incendiary material, LPG or hydrogen cylinders, were stored in the laboratory.

The fire was contained after 45 minutes.

PTI reports from Mumbai:

The research students in the 22-25 age group were identified as Umang Singh of Mumbai and Partha Bag of Kolkata. They were identified on the basis of the ID cards they carried since the bodies were charred beyond recognition, a BARC release said.

It was stated that no reactor, radioactivity or radiation was involved in the accident.