New Delhi:
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has confirmed to NDTV that it was indeed a radiation leak in a West Delhi scrap market where five people have taken ill.
A top DAE team is on its way to investigate the matter. The DAE says the radiation levels are quite high and radiation sickness is a serious matter.
Five people fell ill after coming in contact with a bright shining object at a scrap shop in west Delhi's Mayapuri Industrial Area. They were hospitalised after they complained of dizziness, rashes and dry throat some who came in closer contact even suffered burn injuries. The police and doctors say is case of exposure to radiation.
Police have cordoned off the area and are trying to find out the nature of the substance. A team from the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) will reach Delhi today to investigate.
Deepak Jain, the scrap dealer who suffered serious burn injuries, was yesterday rushed to Apollo Hospital which informed the government that he had suffered radiation, officials said.
Scrap dealer 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.
Immediately, a team was requisitioned from Mumbai-based Atomic Energy Regulatory Board which found during screening that radio-active 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 persons were injured.
Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said there was a "mild radiation" in the scrap, therefore, as a precaution the area has been cordoned off.
Experts from the Atomic Centre as well as National Security Guards have told police that the radiation is only in a limited area.
Police have evacuated the people from the market area. (With PTI inputs)