One radiation exposure patient dies in New Delhi

New Delhi- A 35-year-old man died in a local hospital late Monday, 19 days after he was exposed to radioactive material in a scrap market in New Delhi. Doctors have said the patient suffered from a multi-organ failure.

Doctors at the premier All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital said another patient, Ram Kalap, who was also exposed to radiation, was in a critical condition.

Rajender Prasad, who was exposed to Cobalt 60 at a scrap dealer shop in the crowded industrial area of Mayapuri in west Delhi and admitted to AIIMS on April 8, died around 9.30 pm local on Monday after multiple organ failure, doctors said..

"His condition had deteriorated and his platelet count had dropped drastically. He had developed pneumonia and liver functions impairment. He was on ventilator and was being administered multiple drugs,” attending doctors said.

According to doctors, Kalap is critical and his blood counts have reduced significantly. He has been put on prophylactic antibiotic and anti-fungal agents.

Six people were admitted at AIIMS with radiation exposure. One was discharged on April 20. Three other patients continue to have low blood count but are "stable", the doctor said.

Deepak Jain, a scrap metal dealer from Mayapuri, was the first victim. He turned black after he touched the radioactive source. He had a considerably suppressed bone marrow and is hospitalized at the Indraprastha Apollo hospital.

Ajay Jain, another scrap metal dealer from Mayapuri, was admitted to Max Hospital in Pitampura on April 10. He suffered minor burns and was declared radiation free by the hospital authorities. His condition is being monitored.

Ten sources of Cobalt-60 had been found in the Mayapuri scrap market earlier this month.

Cobalt-60 is a radioactive isotope of cobalt, which is a hard, lustrous, grey metal. It is used in cancer therapy machines and other medical equipment.

Indian scientists last week had cordoned off part of an industrial area in New Delhi and started investigations after a radiation leak from a scrap shop.

The people came in contact with a "bright shining object" at the shop in the Mayapuri industrial area in western New Delhi.

"A team of experts has already identified the source of radiation, removed it and sent it for further investigations," senior district police official Sharad Agarwal had told reporters last week.

Scientists from the Crisis Management Group of the Department of Atomic Energy and Atomic Energy Regulation Board were surveying the extent of radiation in the area.

They confirmed the radioactive emissions were coming from the scrap. They also sealed off the area within a kilometre and conducted tests to check if there was any other source of radiation in the area.

"The experts have identified the material as Cobalt-60. They have identified six sources of Cobalt-60 from the scrap shop," B B Bhattacharya, member of National Disaster Management Authority.

Meanwhile, a top Indian nuclear scientist has advocated that police should be trained to take necessary actions in case radioactivity is detected.

Anil Kakodkar, former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) has been quoted by PTI news agency as saying: “After any kind of explosion, police teams going to the spot should be armed with radiation monitors. If radioactivity is detected then the place has to be cordoned off and the authorities of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) should be called. ”

The former chairman further said since nuclear and radiation technologies are improving in India, there is a need to secure malevolent use of these materials and technologies by terror outfits.

Kakodkar also said the police should not create a panic situation. “Several times we have seen police holding press conferences to announce the seizure of huge quantities of uranium. But such uranium is not at all harmful,” he said.

End it srinath