Radiation leak injures five in West Delhi scrap shop

According to the officer,the five victims slept at the scrap dealer’s shop,where some radioactive material,reportedly medical waste equipment,was dumped some five days ago in West Delhi.

The Police Control Room received a call from the scrap dealer’s shop at 8.30 pm. According to officials,skin of two men had turned black due to exposure to the radioactive material — all five victims have burn injuries and rashes on their bodies. 

“This is not an immediate impact — they have been subjected to the radiation for the last five days,” the officer said. “They were sleeping in the room where medical waste equipment had been stored. They have shown allergic reaction and are vomiting continuously.” The victims are being examined at AIIMS,according to the officer.

Prima facie,it has been revealed that the waste material had come from a city hospital. A team of experts has been constituted to look at the scrap shop to examine the radioactive waste. 

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Sharad Aggarwal said,“We have seized the equipment and sent it for examination. We are taking the help of researchers and experts to know what caused the radiation.” Police officials said experts from Mumbai and Chandigarh are arriving in the Capital to examine the radioactive waste. 

A team from the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) will reach the Capital on Friday morning.

Police officials said the shop is located in a congested locality and experts are investigating whether more people have been affected. The shop is owned by one Deepak Jain. He is also being examined for possible exposure.