Accidental mixing of chemicals caused BARC fire: Chavan

The fire in BARC, which killed two nuclear scientists, was caused by low intensity explosive energy released from accidental mixing of small quantities of reactive chemicals, the Lok Sabha was told today.

The fire in BARC, which killed two nuclear scientists, was caused by low intensity explosive energy released from accidental mixing of small quantities of reactive chemicals, the Lok Sabha was told today.

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"Reason for the fire accident as indicated by the report of Investigation Committee set up by BARC is low intensity
explosive energy released from accidental mixing of small quantities of reactive chemicals stored in the Chemical

Laboratory," Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan said in a written reply.

The Committee had made several recommendations to prevent recurrence of similar incidents, he said.

Two PhD students were killed when a fire broke out on December 29 last year in a chemistry lab at the Bhabha Atomic
Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai.

Chavan said BARC Investigation Committee had recommended remedial measures to improve not only safety but also
emergency response to an incident which can prevent escalation of the incident and can mitigate the consequences.

The BARC Safety Council is taking further steps for implementation of the recommendations of the Committee to
enhance the safety status of all the laboratories, he said.

Chavan said the police officials were also conducting forensic and other investigations.