29 Dec, 2009, Mumbai, India

A fire broke out today in the Chemistry lab at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) that is located just a km away from the nuclear reactors leaving two persons dead but the scientists said that there was no danger of any sort of radioactivity.

The Scientists at suburban Trombay-based BARC said that there was a loud bang in the Chemistry lab after which some black smoke billowed out. It was not immediately clear if the bang was caused by any explosion or triggered by a chemical reaction. No research involving the radioactive material is conducted in multi-storeyed Modular lab in which the Chemistry lab was housed. It was also stated that no reactor, radioactivity or any radiation is involved in this accident.

The victims are yet to be identified as the bodies are charred beyond recognition. But the sources said they could be trainee scientists. Some equipment was also damaged in the blaze. The Indian police officials told that the charred bodies of two research students were found on the third floor of the modular laboratory.

The BARC fire brigade officials rushed to the spot and doused the blaze within 45 minutes. The fire-fighters later made their way to the lab negotiating the broken windows and located two badly charred bodies. The centre has a number of nuclear research reactors and is one of India’s key research centers for both nuclear power as well as nuclear weapons.