A mild radiation leak in a west Delhi industrial area triggered panic in New Delhi after a scrap dealer and his three employees suffered burn injuries and fell unconscious after coming in contact with a mysterious shining object on Wednesday.
Scientists from the crisis management group of the Department of Atomic Energy and the Atomic Energy Regulation Board on Friday carried out a survey of the extent of radiation in West Delhi's Mayapuri industrial area.
DAE sources said thorough investigations were being carried out to determine how much the radiation has spread and all other aspects of the incident including how it started.
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre has also rushed a team of scientists to Delhi to ascertain the extent of the leak.
The incident was reported from Mayapuri Industrial Area and the area has been cordoned off, the police said on Thursday.
Deepak Jain, the scrap dealer who suffered serious burn injuries, was rushed to Apollo Hospital, which informed the government that he had suffered radiation, officials said.
Immediately, a team was requisitioned from Mumbai-based Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, which found during screening that radioactive emissions were coming from the scrap.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram have been informed about the incident.
According to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, there was a report of a 'radiation leak' and four people were injured.
Jain had found the 'bright, shining object' among some medical waste he bought from a hospital in west Delhi. When he, along with three of his workers, opened the bag, they noticed that their hands were turning black and they fell unconscious, a senior police official said.
Delhi police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said there was a 'mild radiation' in the scrap, therefore, as a precaution the area has been cordoned off.
"Four people have been admitted in hospital. It is confirmed that the injuries are due to radiation from the material. This mild radiation is in a limited area but there is no cause for any panic. The radiation is being defused. Teams are working and it will be completed very soon," he said.
