A nuclear power reactor at the Kaiga Generating Station (KGS) here was shut down after a smoke detection alarm went off.

A smoke detection alarm sounded in the control room of Unit 3 on Friday around 4.30 a.m. following which the 220 MWe nuclear power plant was shut down, the Nuclear Power Corporation said in a statement here.

“On inspection of the respective area, it has been found that there was nothing abnormal,” said the Station Director, Mr J.P. Gupta.

As an abundant precaution, the unit was shut down, he said.

The nuclear plant operator said routine surveillance tests were planned for Unit-3 before May, when the plant was to be shut down for a couple of weeks.

“Having the unit in shut down state, decision is taken to utilise this opportunity and carry out these tests now,” NPCIL said.