Radioactive leak at IGI Airport's cargo terminal

New Delhi: A leak of radioactive substance, which had come from Turkey, was detected at the cargo complex of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here today. 

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing a press conference here, said the leakage has been "plugged." A team of atomic energy department has also reached the spot, the Home Minister said.

Sources said about four packets, out of the total ten, of a yellow-coloured liquid was suspected to have spread out of its sanitised container after the consignment landed at the cargo area of the airport at about 4:35 AM after which a special squad of the National



Disaster Response Force team was called in to check and contain it.

NDRF chief O P Singh said a special ten-member team from its base in Dwarka has been rushed to the spot and is "sanitising" the area. "Radioactive leak very very small. There is nothing to panic and there is no effect on the passenger area," Singh said.

The cargo complex has been vacated by the officials as a preventive measure. Airport officials said the material was imported for use in medical purpose by a multi-speciality hospital. The packets, containing the material, bore the markings class-II liquid and a chemical component of Sodium.