By IRNA
Islamabad : At least two employees were killed due to leakage of gas from a nuclear power plant in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province on Tuesday.
Several people were also fell unconscious due to the gas leakage from nuclear reactor near the city of Khushab where Pakistan had built 40-50 Mega Watt, Thermal Research Reactor in April 1998.
“Situation was immediately brought under control and two workers lost their lives while controlling the incident,” a statement from the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) said.
The PAEC statement clarified that there was no threat to public life from gas leakage from Khushab Heavy Water plant.
“There is no threat to public life as all the leakage gas has been burnt in the flare system of the plant,” said the statement about gas leakage incident at Khushab heavy water plant.
It stated that on April 08, 2008 afternoon, while the Khushab heavy water plant was under annual maintenance and under shut-down status, an incident of gas leakage occurred, which was immediately addressed by the safety & Fire Protection Division.
“All necessary steps were taken to protect the plant, including evacuation of personnel as a precautionary measure, in accordance with the Standing Operating System (SOP),” it said.
The orders have been passed by the competent authority for inquiry to find out possible causes of the incident, the statement said.
Meanwhile the District Coordination Officer Dr Mohammad Saleh said that gas leakage killed Principal Technician Anwar-ul-Shams and another employee Ragar Lal Beg.
Saleh said that the unconscious people are out of danger.