Radioactive Source is Safely Stored in a Closed Room at AMU:PRO

*ALIGARH July 5:* To set at rest the uncalled for scare triggered by
tracing the radioactive source stored for decades in a closed room in the
Physics Department of Aligarh Muslim University, the Vice Chancellor Prof.
P. K. Abdul Azis today contacted Atomic Energy Regulatory Board Safety
Division and urged to take urgent measures to fully secure the campus and
its vicinity from any radioactive hazard.

Mr. S. A. Husain, the Radioactive Safety Officer of radio-active safety
division has assured the Vice Chancellor that since the radioactive source
is stored in a closed room the chances of any leakage were almost
non-existent and therefore the University community and the citizens of
Aligarh city should not panic. He has also agreed to send an expert team
soon to the campus to survey and screen all the radioactive sources that are
stored in the University and being used for treatment and research purposes.

Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis said that the University has taken a proactive
initiative and constituted a committee to look into the present status
pertaining to the procurement, storage, utilization and disposal of
radioactive and other hazardous material/chemicals in various departments of
the University, as required by the University Grants Commission.

Prof. Azis has set-up an eight member Committee under the Chairmanship of
Prof. Pervez Qamar Rizvi and Prof. Akhtar Haseeb and its Convener. The other
members includes Prof. Mohd. Zafar, Chairman, Department of Physics, prof.
Shahid Ali Siddiqui, Prof. Jamal Ahmad, Director, Center of
Diabetes and Endocrinology, Prof. AMK Yusufi, Chairman, Department of
Biochemistry, Prof. NAK Durrani, Chairman, Department of Mass Communication
and Dr. Rahat Abrar, Public Relation Officer. The Committee will visit all
user departments of studies and submit its report to the Vice Chancellor
within three days.