‘Let people know about radiation’

The Cobalt-60 radiation leak episode in Mayapuri scrap yard has claimed one life. Scientists now say the authorities need to work hard to avoid such mishaps in future.

The Cobalt-60 radiation leak episode in Mayapuri scrap yard has claimed one life. Scientists now say the authorities need to work hard to avoid such mishaps in future.

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“The main problem is ignorance,” said a senior official at the Department of Atomic Energy on the condition of anonymity.

“The man who died late Monday died without knowing what sent him to his deathbed. It is that ignorance that we need to fight.”

The department has sent a proposal to tightly monitor porous borders, ports and scrap yards to arrest the movement of radioactive material.

The officials also said that the civilians should also be made aware of the danger.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), for instance, has demonstrated to metal scrap workers the various ways to detect and protect themselves from radiation.

“We have demonstrated RADTriage badges, which change colour if a person infected with radiation poisoning wears it,” Dr J.K. Bansal of the NDMA says.