Delhi cops not ready to handle such mishaps

It took them more than three days to realise that they were dealing with something that could cause a major disaster. What’s more, those who responded first to it also had no clue as to what it was.

It took them more than three days to realise that they were dealing with something that could cause a major disaster. What’s more, those who responded first to it also had no clue as to what it was.

HT Image

So, on Thursday, when the Delhi Police, which can barely keep the goons and bad characters in check, were caught unawares on Thursday when they were asked to secure something they had never heard of.

The West Delhi police was asked to cordon off a 50-metre area around the scrap shop in Mayapuri. In the absence of any protective gear, they were exposed to radiation from Cobalt-60.

Response time

The Capital might be gearing up for the Commonwealth Games but when it comes to dealing with radioactive material they have no clue on how to handle it. Even though authorities became aware of the presence of radioactive material in Mayapuri on April 5, it took them another three days to detect and contain it. Evacuation of the area was done just hours before it was removed.

Even the Delhi Fire Services, the first to react in mishaps and disasters, do not have the expertise to deal with a radioactive catastrophe. “We have three HAZMAT vehicles that deal with chemical, not radioactive, hazards,” said R.C. Sharma, Director Delhi Fire Services.

Ill equipped force

Neither the Delhi Police nor the scientists who turned up to contain the radioactive material had the right gear for the task. “We were told that the shop had radioactive material. We briefed our men to maintain a safe distance. But we do not have the equipment to deal with such things. We made a cordon of 300-metres after evacuating the market,” said DCP (West) Sharad Aggarwal.