BARC: Fire left no danger behind

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre at Chembur, has said no reactor, radioactivity or radiation was involved in the fire that broke out on Tuesday in its modular laboratory, reports HT Correspondent.

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) at Chembur, has said no reactor, radioactivity or radiation was involved in the fire that broke out on Tuesday in its modular laboratory.

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A source from the premises told Hindustan Times that the buildings in the facility are located at a considerable distance from each other, which is why the fire could not have affected the reactors.

“They are isolated and spread over a large area, so there was nothing to fear,” he said, adding that the fire did not cause much damage and was contained in the room where it started. He said the likely cause of the fire seemed to be a chemical explosion.

A BARC press release says their fire brigade arrived at the scene immediately and brought the fire under control. That was when they found the charred bodies of the two Ph.D students of radiochemistry, Umang Singh (25) and Partha Bag (25).

Sources familiar with the layout of the building said it is spread over a large area, and houses numerous such labs.

“It is a large rectangular building, and houses all the chemistry, physics and biology labs,” said a source familiar with the building.

Sources familiar with the premises said the reactor Dhruv is at least half a kilometre away from the modular building, and said that is a safe enough distance. Another reactor, Cirus, is a little further away from Dhruv, said the source.

Security arrangements at BARC had come under review following revelations that alleged Lashkar-e-Tayyeba operative David Headley had visited the facility and done a reconnaissance study of the area. Security at the facility has been upgraded since.