The source of the latest cobalt-60, experts said, seems to different from the previous discovery which had led to serious injuries to seven handlers.
According to B B Bhattacharya, member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the two new sources were located deep inside the scrap market. "The new sources of cobalt-60 are confirmed to be located at a different spot and hence we now have evidence that these sources were present in another part of the market too," he told.
According to NDMA experts, after the fresh discovery, it is now up to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board to certify whether the area is radiation-free. "Until then, no one should be working in this market," the expert said.
TOI failed to get any AERB official on record over what action it planned to take despite repeated calls to the Mumbai-based regulatory body.
Sources said around 20 people are suspected to have been exposed to low radiation levels and their blood samples might be collected for testing. These people have not shown any symptoms. "This will be an added safety measure," said a senior state health department official.
With one more victim -- Babulal, 28, hailing from Bihar -- being admitted to AIIMS on Monday afternoon for radiation injuries, the number of victims has risen to seven. Babulal worked in a shop adjacent to that of Deepak Jain, who was one of the first to complain of ill-health.
The owner shop of the shop where the latest cobalt-60 was discovered was identified as Giriraj Gupta. But the origin of the material could not be ascertained. "We have begun the initial questioning but scrap enters the market through several outlets. It will take us sometime to ascertain the source of these substances," said Ajai Kashyap, joint commissioner (Southern Range).
DCP Aggarwal said Gupta was "vague" about the source of the material. "The Meera Bagh businessman will be questioned again on Wednesday," said the DCP.
According to the west district police, the fresh radiation was detected by a team of experts led by Dr Bhowmick of the emergency response cell of BARC located at R K Puram. The department of atomic energy and the National Disaster Management Authority, which were conducting follow-up checks in the market, were also alerted. S K Malhotra, public awareness officer of DAE, said that a team from the atomic minerals directorate unit, combing the area for possible radiation, was rushed to the spot along with a team of doctors.
"We had gone there for a routine check when we detected higher than normal radiation levels at shop number D-127. The earlier detection was made at D-II 32 on Thursday -- about 1km away," said Bhattacharya.
"However, this time the radiation emitted was of much less intensity as compared to the previous source," he said.
DCP (west) Sharad Aggarwal said that the contents of the new radiation source "were similar" to the ones found on Thursday -- though they came in a pencil shape. "The shopkeeper had removed some metal from the scrap, which is the source of fresh radiation," he said.
Bhattacharya said that the authority will extend the searches to the entire market and will conduct it during the night hours. "We will carry out searches in the night as during day it is not feasible," he said.
"The entire area has been cordoned off by the police and ITBP staffers to allow experts to collect the samples. These were safely extracted and sent to the Bulandshahr-based Narora Atomic Energy Centre for testing," said DCP Aggarwal.
The local businessmen, however claimed they are not being informed of the daily findings and were not sure if they were exposing themselves to danger. "Two scientists were crossing the D-127 shop when they suddenly stopped their vehicle and got out. It was around 4pm on Tuesday. I heard a sound on their equipment after which they asked all the employees of the shop to leave and asked the owner to pull down the shutters. However, they did not ask any of the adjoining shops to close down. We were informed that they came back at night to collect samples from this shop," said Gaganpreet Singh, owner of the neighbouring shop from where the new sources were located.
He added: "If things were so dangerous, why were we asked not to shut down? The agencies need to scan the area and get rid of these substances so that we can begin our business again."
The official said there were no fresh cases of hospitalization. NDMA member J K Bansal said the agency was "aware of the ground situation" and will be using radiation monitoring by radio biodosimetry which will be conducted at the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Life Sciences. He said there was "no risk" at the moment but "whosoever already exposed to low radiation but not showing any symptoms, are being monitored".
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