Radioactive leak at Delhi's IGI airport plugged, officials say nothing to worry

New Delhi: Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport was at the tenterhooks for a few hours on Friday morning when a nuclear medicine spilled leading to radioactive leak. The leak was finally contained by the authorities by afternoon.

The leak was detected at the Turkish Airlines cargo section of the airport. A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) anti-sabotage team was rushed to the spot and the leak was plugged. The Home Ministry confirmed that the situation is under control although some cargo handlers who were near the leak area were rushed to AIIMS.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the leakage has been "plugged."

The leak occurred when nuclear medicine brought in on a Turkish Airlines plane spilled. The cargo was meant for Fortis Hospital. Some hospital authorities were also called to the airport.

Meanwhile, all operations at the cargo terminal of Delhi airport have been suspended.

Sources said about four packets, out of the total 10, of a yellow-coloured liquid were suspected to have spread out of its sanitised container after the consignment landed at the cargo area of the airport at about 4:35 AM after which a special squad of the NDRF team was called in to check and contain it.

NDRF chief OP Singh said a special 10-member team from its base in Dwarka was rushed to the spot and "sanitised" the area. "Radioactive leak was very, very small. There is nothing to panic and there is no effect on the passenger area," Singh said.

In 2010, too, there was a radioactive leak at Delhi's Mayapuri industrial area. A scrap dealer and some other people suffered burn injuries and fell unconscious after coming in contact with radioactive material Cobalt-60. One person later died.

The problem with accidents/leaks with nuclear installation is that radioactive material might get discharged into the environment. This radioactive material could then enter human bodies. The primary ways for these radioactive materials to enter human-bodies is:

1. Through breathing of contaminated air

2. Through eating of contaminated food (including livestock animals – which might have inhaled/eaten contaminated air/food)

3. Through drinking of contaminated water

4. Through pores of skin etc - which might be in contact with contaminated air or water. This is very small, small enough to be considered as negligible.