Killer Cobalt-60: Delhi University admits mistake

Mumbai: When Delhi University sold a machine to scrap dealers in February this year, it thought it was getting rid of a "Gamma Irradiator", that had not been used for 25 years. (Read & Watch: Radiation leak source traced to Delhi University Chemistry lab)

That auction - the machine was sold for 1.5 lakhs - has led to one of the country's worst radiation leaks. One person has died, another seven are in critical condition in hospital.

Delhi University now faces severe punishment for failing to follow basic safety rules. What it sold as junk was a "Gamma Irradiator" - a machine is used for sterilisation or decontamination. It contained the highly-radioactive  Cobalt 60. (Read: What is Gamma Irradiator?)

The machine was imported from Canada by Delhi University in 1975 for use by Chemistry students.

The Atomic Energy Regulation Board (AERB) has said only scientists with special equipment should handle the disposal of radioactive equipment. In this case, scrap dealers dismantled the machine after they bought it, without any protective gear. When they broke open its lead cover, they exposed themselves to radiation.

A showcause notice has been issued to Delhi University to explain why basic procedures were not followed. The university may also lose its license to carry out research involving  nuclear radiation.

"We are tracing the registration of the Canadian irradiator and also contemplating severe punishment under the Indian Atomic Energy Act for the Chemistry Department as it is responsible for severe exposure of gamma rays to the public in Mayapuri which even left one person dead," Chairman, AERB S S Bajaj told PTI.

The Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, Deepak Paintal, said he was "extremely sorry for the damage caused." He also said that university officials believed that the machine's radioactive life had expired since it was nearly 40 years old. Experts say the AERB is unlikely to accept this as a reasonable ground for what's seen as extreme carelessness by university staff.

The irradiator was stored in a special room marked "gamma cell." The AERB says this is proof that the University was aware that this was potentially-dangerous equipment that should have been supervised carefully at all times. (Watch: Delhi's poor response to radiation exposure)

Also read: One patient dies in Delhi due to radiation exposure
Watch: World reports India's radiation death