A suspected radioactive leak from a medical shipment at the cargo terminal of the Delhi airport triggered panic, prompting a "radiological emergency" on Sunday.
But an expert examination cleared that the emissions were within permissible limits.
The incident was reported at 10.45 am when the Delhi fire brigade received a call about a radioactive leak from a consignment of 16 packets of nuclear drug Molybdenum 99, used in the treatment of cancer, flown in by an Air France flight from Paris for Delhi-based B L Kapoor Hospital.
"An inadvertently wrong radiological emergency message was conveyed. The quantity of radiation emitted from the nuclear medicine is below 1 mill rongen (measurement of radiation). There is no beta radiation in the surrounding areas and there is no leakage. Hence, it cannot be termed an emergency," a statement said.
Authorities took a final call in lifting the radiological emergency at 1.55 pm after clearance from experts of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Official sources said the local unit of the Central Industrial Security Force intimated the NDRF control room about the suspected radioactive leak from a sanitised container. Following this, the area was sanitised and the cargo complex vacated.
The experts were rushed to the airport's cargo terminal, located 1.5 km from the passenger area, besides a team of doctors, soon after the call was made.
"Detection of radiation was done by the NDRF team using technical equipment. The radiation level at varied distances from the source was marked and the suspect packings were isolated. After thorough detection and identification of the material, it was declared safe for movement. There is no need to panic and there is no effect on the passenger area. There was no leakage,"an NDRF statement said.
Air France said on Twitter that the shipment of radioactive medical material on flight AF226 operated by an A330 from Paris to New Delhi "did not reveal any anomaly".
"After several controls by relevant authorities, including India's independent nuclear energy authorities at its arrival at the New Delhi airport, its acceptation has been confirmed compliant. The transport of this type of material is subject to strict rules and carried out in accordance with international regulations. Air France reminds that the security of its customers and crews is top priority," it said.
NDRF:
Detection of radiation was done by the NDRF team using technical equipment. The radiation level at varied distances from the source was marked and the suspect packings were isolated.![]( "Security personnel arrive at the cargo section of Indira Gandhi International Airport after reports of suspected radioactive leak fromcancer medicines, in NewDelhi on Sunday. PTI")
A suspected radioactive leak from a medical shipment at the cargo terminal of the Delhi airport triggered panic, prompting a "radiological emergency” on Sunday.
But an expert examination cleared that the emissions were within permissible limits.
The incident was reported at 10.45 am when the Delhi fire brigade received a call about a radioactive leak from a consignment of 16 packets of nuclear drug Molybdenum 99, used in the treatment of cancer, flown in by an Air France flight from Paris for Delhi-based B L Kapoor Hospital.
"An inadvertently wrong radiological emergency message was conveyed. The quantity of radiation emitted from the nuclear medicine is below 1 mill rongen (measurement of radiation). There is no beta radiation in the surrounding areas and there is no leakage. Hence, it cannot be termed an emergency,” a statement said.
Authorities took a final call in lifting the radiological emergency at 1.55 pm after clearance from experts of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Official sources said the local unit of the Central Industrial Security Force intimated the NDRF control room about the suspected radioactive leak from a sanitised container. Following this, the area was sanitised and the cargo complex vacated.
The experts were rushed to the airport’s cargo terminal, located 1.5 km from the passenger area, besides a team of doctors, soon after the call was made.
"Detection of radiation was done by the NDRF team using technical equipment. The radiation level at varied distances from the source was marked and the suspect packings were isolated. After thorough detection and identification of the material, it was declared safe for movement. There is no need to panic and there is no effect on the passenger area. There was no leakage,” an NDRF statement said.
Air France said on Twitter that the shipment of radioactive medical material on flight AF226 operated by an A330 from Paris to New Delhi "did not reveal any anomaly”.
"After several controls by relevant authorities, including India’s independent nuclear energy authorities at its arrival at the New Delhi airport, its acceptation has been confirmed compliant. The transport of this type of material is subject to strict rules and carried out in accordance with international regulations. Air France reminds that the security of its customers and crews is top priority,” it said.
NDRF:
Detection of radiation was done by the NDRF team using technical equipment. The radiation level at varied distances from the source was marked and the suspect packings were isolated.
But an expert examination cleared that the emissions were within permissible limits.
The incident was reported at 10.45 am when the Delhi fire brigade received a call about a radioactive leak from a consignment of 16 packets of nuclear drug Molybdenum 99, used in the treatment of cancer, flown in by an Air France flight from Paris for Delhi-based B L Kapoor Hospital.
"An inadvertently wrong radiological emergency message was conveyed. The quantity of radiation emitted from the nuclear medicine is below 1 mill rongen (measurement of radiation). There is no beta radiation in the surrounding areas and there is no leakage. Hence, it cannot be termed an emergency," a statement said.
Authorities took a final call in lifting the radiological emergency at 1.55 pm after clearance from experts of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Official sources said the local unit of the Central Industrial Security Force intimated the NDRF control room about the suspected radioactive leak from a sanitised container. Following this, the area was sanitised and the cargo complex vacated.
The experts were rushed to the airport's cargo terminal, located 1.5 km from the passenger area, besides a team of doctors, soon after the call was made.
"Detection of radiation was done by the NDRF team using technical equipment. The radiation level at varied distances from the source was marked and the suspect packings were isolated. After thorough detection and identification of the material, it was declared safe for movement. There is no need to panic and there is no effect on the passenger area. There was no leakage,"an NDRF statement said.
Air France said on Twitter that the shipment of radioactive medical material on flight AF226 operated by an A330 from Paris to New Delhi "did not reveal any anomaly".
"After several controls by relevant authorities, including India's independent nuclear energy authorities at its arrival at the New Delhi airport, its acceptation has been confirmed compliant. The transport of this type of material is subject to strict rules and carried out in accordance with international regulations. Air France reminds that the security of its customers and crews is top priority," it said.
NDRF:
Detection of radiation was done by the NDRF team using technical equipment. The radiation level at varied distances from the source was marked and the suspect packings were isolated.
A suspected radioactive leak from a medical shipment at the cargo terminal of the Delhi airport triggered panic, prompting a "radiological emergency” on Sunday. But an expert examination cleared that the emissions were within permissible limits.
The incident was reported at 10.45 am when the Delhi fire brigade received a call about a radioactive leak from a consignment of 16 packets of nuclear drug Molybdenum 99, used in the treatment of cancer, flown in by an Air France flight from Paris for Delhi-based B L Kapoor Hospital.
"An inadvertently wrong radiological emergency message was conveyed. The quantity of radiation emitted from the nuclear medicine is below 1 mill rongen (measurement of radiation). There is no beta radiation in the surrounding areas and there is no leakage. Hence, it cannot be termed an emergency,” a statement said.
Authorities took a final call in lifting the radiological emergency at 1.55 pm after clearance from experts of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Official sources said the local unit of the Central Industrial Security Force intimated the NDRF control room about the suspected radioactive leak from a sanitised container. Following this, the area was sanitised and the cargo complex vacated.
The experts were rushed to the airport’s cargo terminal, located 1.5 km from the passenger area, besides a team of doctors, soon after the call was made.
"Detection of radiation was done by the NDRF team using technical equipment. The radiation level at varied distances from the source was marked and the suspect packings were isolated. After thorough detection and identification of the material, it was declared safe for movement. There is no need to panic and there is no effect on the passenger area. There was no leakage,” an NDRF statement said.
Air France said on Twitter that the shipment of radioactive medical material on flight AF226 operated by an A330 from Paris to New Delhi "did not reveal any anomaly”.
"After several controls by relevant authorities, including India’s independent nuclear energy authorities at its arrival at the New Delhi airport, its acceptation has been confirmed compliant. The transport of this type of material is subject to strict rules and carried out in accordance with international regulations. Air France reminds that the security of its customers and crews is top priority,” it said.
NDRF:
Detection of radiation was done by the NDRF team using technical equipment. The radiation level at varied distances from the source was marked and the suspect packings were isolated.