A leak from a medical consignment containing a low radioactive substance created panic at Delhi airport but authorities claimed that the incident did not endanger passengers travelling through the airport.
The consignment had arrived from Turkey at around 4.30 a.m. A leak was discovered in the consignment and two loaders who handled the consignment were hospitalised but later discharged. A preliminary assessment found that the substance was identified to have low level of radioactivity.
An airport spokesman told newspersons that there was no risk of exposure to passengers travelling through the Delhi airport. “This area is far away from any of the passenger terminals, and there is absolutely no risk of exposure to any passengers,” the spokesman added. Imports from one of the two cargo terminals were “temporarily halted”, the airport said in a statement.
At a press conference, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the leak had been “plugged” and teams from the atomic energy department had reached the spot.
A statement by the Airport added that a team from Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had also been pressed into service for removing the radioactive material.
OP Singh, Director-General, NDRF, told agencies that a special 10-member team from its base in Dwarka had rushed to the spot.
In another statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation had started an investigation into the incident. The statement added that flight operations at the airport were not affected.
A DHL spokesman added that there was no impact on its facility, services or employees.