KARWAR : Though senior scientists from the ANRBI in Mumbai have arrived in Karwar to probe into the heavy water leakage in the unit I of Kaiga nuclear plant recently resulting in nearly 40 workers falling ill, the scientists have still not been able to find out the exact reason for the incident.
The investigating team has until now not been able to find answer to several questions. Was the mishap due to human error during the annual maintenance works of the plant ? or was there nitrogen leakage from the pipeline ? How is it that the water from the water cooler was contaminated by the heavy water ? Was this a sabotage attempt ? There has been no clear cut answer to these questions so far.
The urine test of the employees who fell ill has revealed radiation contents.The Babha Atomic Research Centre scientists will be probing into the incident and it is only after the report is out that one can know the exact cause of the mishap.
It is said a major casualty was averted as there was a unit shutdown while the maintenance works in Unit I of the project was underway on Thursday evening. The incident was immediately reported to the Atomic Energy Centre office in Mumbai.
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