However, the authorities concerned, including the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), have ruled out the leakage.
The leakage was detected at the cargo complex in a consignment of sodium iodide and sodium molybdate – radioactive liquid used in nuclear medicine – that arrived in a Turkish Airlines flight (TK-716) from Istanbul at 4:32am.
Earlier in the day, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had constituted a team to investigate the case. A team from the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reached the site and made arrangements to remove the material.
After primary investigation till the afternoon, NDRF chief OP Singh said: “The radioactive leak was minor. There is nothing to panic about and there is no effect on the passenger area.”
However after a couple of hours, a DIAL spokesperson said: “After an extensive assessment, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has confirmed that there was no leakage of any radioactive substance in the subject shipments at the Delhi airport. Based on the AERB’s clearance, Celebi (a cargo operator at Delhi airport) has already resumed the import operations. All other operations at the airport remained unaffected.”
He added: “The area was cordoned off. As per preliminary assessment carried out by the AMD, the material has been termed as low <g data-gr-id="32">radio activity</g> Sodium Iodide Liquid Class 7 meant for medicinal use,” said a DIAL spokesperson.
Dr Ali Genç, senior vice-president (media relations), Turkish Airlines, said: “The cargo package, containing medical medicines, offloaded from Turkish Airlines TK716 Istanbul-Delhi flight was examined by the authorities concerned in Delhi as radioactive leakage was suspected due to wetness on the package. After being informed of the situation, Turkish Airlines’ cargo and technical teams effectuated the necessary controls and conducted radiological surveys in the aircraft, which flew back to Istanbul. However, no evidence of radioactive leakage has been detected.” The incident happened near the cargo area of Turkish Airlines, where four cartons containing nuclear medicines, were found to be damaged, an NDRF official said.
Sources said two of three workers, who handled the consignment, were taken to a Delhi hospital for a medical check-up. After being checked for radiation levels, they are back to work. The suspected consignment was shipped for a city-based private hospital.