DU hands out compensation to victims of radiation exposure

Delhi University today handed out compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to victims of radiation exposure who suffered serious health hazards from radioactive waste disposed off by the institution.

Delhi University on Friday handed out compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to victims of radiation exposure who suffered serious health hazards from radioactive waste disposed off by the institution.

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Several people at Mayapuri's scrap market were exposed to radiation and were taken ill in April this year.

One of them, Rajender (35), a worker at a shop in the scrap market, had died due to multiple organ failure at AIIMS after being exposed to radiation.

Relief amount of Rs two lakh was handed over to Ram Jiyavan, Gaurav, Ram Kalap Yadav and Himanshu Jain, the victims who suffered injuries, a statement from the varsity said on Friday.

The University has also offered a regular job to Nandini Devi, the widow of Rajender, and she would be offered the compensation thereafter, it said.

A total of eight persons were admitted to different hospitals in the city following exposure to Cobalt-60, in an object disposed of as scrap in Mayapuri area.

Cobalt-60 is a radioactive isotope of cobalt, which is a hard, lustrous, grey metal. It is used in cancer therapy machines and other medical equipment.

The trail of the radioactive substance led to Delhi University's Chemistry Department and it was found that the institution had disposed off the radioactive waste that reached the Mayapuri scrap market.