The officers, however, acknowledged that securing the airport, which witnesses a high daily footfall, would be a challenging task at the time of such a crisis
The suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town in Syria, which killed more than 80 people on April 4 this year, once again highlighted the need for every country to be prepared for such an eventuality.
Reacting accordingly, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed a team at the Indira Gandhi International Airport's (IGIA) international terminal to deal with chemical or radiological attacks. The team members have undergone extensive month-long training.
The officers, however, acknowledged that securing the airport, which witnesses a high daily footfall, would be a challenging task at the time of such a crisis. Twice in the past, radioactive leakage threats have been triggered at the IGIA, after which the entire cargo terminal was sanitised with the help of NDRF, Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and other authorities concerned.
Sources said these two incidents had brought to light that the airport security forces were not prepared to handle such problems. Immediately, stringent measures were undertaken to strengthen the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and to make it loophole-free.
"The team members are equipped with portable alpha contamination monitor, electronic dosimeters, micro survey meters, thermo-luminescent meters, and other technology. We are prepared to detect even minute leakage of toxic gases or radioactive substances. Our teams keep making rounds of the entire premises area, especially the cargo area," a senior officer said.
He added that at the time of any emergency, multiple agencies will be pressed into action, including the police, fire services, DDMA, NDMA, and other agencies concerned.
"The airport is a hypersensitive location and, therefore, a unit equipped with advanced detectors and instruments to measure the intensity of the leakage has been permanently stationed inside Terminal III. The proximity would help the unit to react without delay," a senior officer said.
Two more NDRF teams have been placed across Delhi, one near the Lutyens' zone and another one in south Delhi, for immediate reaction to crisis, the officer added.
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