Chennai: An unidentified radioactive material has been lying unattended in a corner of Chennai airport's cargo hold for more than five years. While clearing unclaimed cargo, airport officials stumbled upon two boxes marked 'radioactive material'. Experts from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) inspected the consignments and found one to be radioactive and the other inert.
It is unclear why the boxes were not claimed by the addressee. Airports Authority of India (AAI) is taking steps to re-export the material, which arrived from the US in 2008. The boxes contain non-fissile material classified as grade III, which means it is highly radioactive.
A senior official of AAI said the consignment was brought using a 'special form' as per rules governed by International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). "It was kept in a secluded spot designated for such materials till consignees claimed it. However, it was not claimed and remained there for some reason," he said.
31/08/13 Times of India
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
It is unclear why the boxes were not claimed by the addressee. Airports Authority of India (AAI) is taking steps to re-export the material, which arrived from the US in 2008. The boxes contain non-fissile material classified as grade III, which means it is highly radioactive.
A senior official of AAI said the consignment was brought using a 'special form' as per rules governed by International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). "It was kept in a secluded spot designated for such materials till consignees claimed it. However, it was not claimed and remained there for some reason," he said.
31/08/13 Times of India
