Radioactive leak at IGI Airport's cargo terminal

Rajnath Singh says leak plugged; airport ops not affected

A leak of a radioactive substance, purportedly used for medical treatment, was detected at the cargo complex of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) raising alarm bells here on Friday morning. 

However, no casualty has been reported and the airport operations have not been affected.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said the leakage has been plugged. The consignment was offloaded from a Turkish Airlines plane early morning at the IGI airport when the leak was detected.

A team each from Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have reached the site and making arrangements for the removal of the material.

The preliminary assessment by the AMD showed that the material detected was of “low radioactivity – sodium iodide liquid class 7 meant for medical use,” a Delhi international airport spokesperson said.

The cargo complex has been vacated by the officials as a preventive measure. “This area is far away from any of the passenger terminals and there is absolutely no risk of exposure to any passengers,” the spokesperson added.

NDRF chief O P Singh said there is nothing to panic as the radioactive leak was small and his team is "sanitising" the area.

"Radioactive leak was very small. There is nothing to panic and there is no effect on the passenger area," Singh said.