CBRN event in India on Mon 6th November 2006

An industrial gamma radiography exposure device (IGRED) model Techops-660, weighing about 20.4 kg, containing about 0.29 TBq (on 06-11-2006) Ir-192 radiography source belonging to a radiography agency was lost on 06 November 2006, while it was kept unattended outside the dark room area.

The above IGRED could not be located despite of extensive search operation carried out using high sensitivity radiation survey instruments. No radiation injury has been reported so far. It is presumed that the source is still inside the exposure device. The device has adequate Depleted Uranium shielding with proper locking mechanisms in place to prevent inadvertent removal of the radioactive source. No significant radiological hazard is expected as long as the source is inside the device.