Mumbai: The fire at the Bhabha Atomic
Research Centre was not a mere accident and could be "some
one`s" way of checking the preparedness of the nuclear
centre in the backdrop of intelligence reports of a possible
terror attack, said former Director of the centre A N Prasad.
"It could be that someone is testing us (BARC) to know
our preparedness and response to such incidents. We have been
told by intelligence that BARC is one of targets for terror
attacks," Prasad told PTI from Bangalore today.
Two persons were killed in the fire yesterday at the
high-security premises.
From media reports one could conjuncture that someone is
trying to ascertain how vulnerable the centre is, he said
adding, the security system of the centre should not be
disclosed.
Modular laboratory in BARC is not vulnerable to such an
explosion as these labs do not handle any hazardous chemicals,
he said hinting at a foul play.
"Modular laboratory does not handle any hazardous
chemicals and yesterday`s fire and explosion which resulted in
the death of two persons is a cause of great concern,"Prasad
said.
Modular lab has a Safety Committee and they are supposed
to periodically go through all the laboratories housed there
and also review, he said.
The spectroscopy laboratory where the accident took place
did not have any cylinders and it also does not store any
hazardous chemicals to result in such explosion, he said.
Even if some inflammable chemicals are kept in the lab,
it cannot cause death of people, he said, adding the incident
should be taken as a indicator.
-PTI
