Mumbai:
A fire accident left two people dead at India's main nuclear research laboratory, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai, on Tuesday.
According to the Department of Atomic Energy "no nuclear reactor, radioactivity or radiation was involved in the accident."
Dr Srikumar Banerjee, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission told NDTV: "It is a sad accident, but it is in no way related to India's strategic programme. All activities at BARC have resumed normally." Banerjee has sought a fire safety audit of all BARC facilities.
The fire started in a chemical laboratory at 12:05 pm and was doused within 45 minutes. The two bodies recovered were charred beyond recognition. They have been identified as Umang Singh (24) from Mumbai and Perthpratim Bag (25) from Kolkata; both were trainees on a three-year assignment.
The fire, described by DAE as a 'typical chemical' fire, was confined to one lab and did not spread; its 'trigger' is not known. A police investigating into the accident has started, but sources say it does not seem to suggest any attempt at a terror attack.
"We have also started investigating the cause of the fire," said BARC spokesperson S K Malhotra.