[ RadSafe ] Five injured from Co-60 source in India

Hansen, Richard HansenRG at nv.doe.gov
Mon Apr 12 17:37:46 CDT 2010


Anyone have any more information on this incident than the news article
quoted below?
In India, a scrap dealer and 4 employees injured by radiation after
cutting into lead container housing Co-60.

DailyIndia.com
Efforts to cut a lead container led to radiation: Chavan
>From ANI
New Delhi, Apr 9: 
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology
Prithviraj Chavan said efforts to cut a lead container carrying a
radioactive
substance led to radiation in a west Delhi industrial area.

Interacting with media here, Chavan said experts have identified the
material as Cobalt-60. 

Due to the radiation one person was seriously injured, while five others
were less injured. 

"The Government is planning to devise some mechanism to ensure that
scrap dealers report to the authorities detection of radioactive
material among scrap," Chavan said. 

A team of scientists from Mumbai's Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
and the Narora Atomic Power Station in New Delhi, scanned the Mayapuri
Industrial area to examine whether there is any other source of a
similar emission in the vicinity. 

The team, collected and isolated the mysterious shining object from the
scrap shop in a sophisticated lid and have sent it for further
scientific investigation. 

The incident came to light when a scrap dealer, Deepak Jain, suffered
serious burn injuries. 

The Apollo Hospital, where Jain is undergoing treatment informed the
Government about radiation in that area. 

According to hospital sources, Jain fell unconscious and his hands had
turned black after coming into contact with the object.

The material was reportedly bought as part of medical waste from a city
hospital. 

Four workers employed by Jain also suffered injuries in the incident. 

Copyright Asian News International/DailyIndia.com
http://www.dailyindia.com/show/369158.php


Best regards,
Rick Hansen
Senior Scientist
Counter Terrorism Operations Support Program
National Security Technologies, LLC, for the U.S. Dept of Energy
hansenrg at nv.doe.gov
www.ctosnnsa.org




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