A leak of radioactive substance, which had come from Turkey, was detected at the cargo complex of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here today.

There is no risk of exposure to any passenger travelling through Delhi airport due to leakage from a material suspected to be of radioactive nature at the cargo terminal of Delhi airport here on Friday morning.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing a press conference here, said the leakage has been “plugged”.

A team of the atomic energy department has also reached the spot, the Home Minister said.

"This area is far away from any of the passenger terminals and there is absolutely no risk of exposure to any passengers," a spokesman of the Delhi airport said.

Sources said about four packets, of the total of ten, of a yellow-coloured liquid was suspected to have spread out of its sanitised container after the consignment landed at the cargo area of the airport at about 4:35 am after which a special squad of the National Disaster Response Force team was called in to check and contain it.

NDRF chief O P Singh said a special 10-member team from its base in Dwarka has been rushed to the spot and is “sanitising” the area.

“Radioactive leak is very, very small. There is nothing to panic and there is no effect on the passenger area,” Singh said.

The cargo complex has been vacated by officials as a preventive measure.

Airport officials said the material was imported for use in medical purposes by a multi-speciality hospital.

The packets, containing the material, bore the markings class-II liquid and a chemical component of sodium.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW