NUCNET - 2002 July 22
Radiation Source 'Lost' During Unauthorised Bus Journey
An incident involving the loss of a package containing an industrial gamma radiography exposure device on a passenger bus in India has been given a provisional rating of level 2 on the International Nuclear Events Scale (INES).
According to a report submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by the Indian Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), the package contained an iridium-192 radiography source of activity level 0.73 terabequerels (TBq), and was being transported from Lakhimpur to Digboi in the state of Assam by a radiographer in a passenger bus "in contravention" of regulatory requirements.
During the journey the bus broke down, requiring all passengers to change to another bus in order to continue the journey. Upon reaching the destination, the radiographer noticed the package was missing. A search is now being carried out to locate it. The AERB says the device is "very sturdy" and possesses "many safety locks", which can only be opened by those who have been specially trained for operating the device. However, exposure might result if attempt were made to destroy the device, such as by a scrap dealer.
Source: IAEA
Editor: Ursula Dinnis