40 feared dead in Iran, 20 in Pakistan; shockwaves felt in North India

Pakistan, specifically Balochistan, appears to have borne the brunt of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Iranian border province of Sistan-Baluchestan on Tuesday afternoon. While Pakistan confirmed the death of at least 20 people following the earthquake, there were conflicting reports from Tehran which ranged from no deaths to 40 dead. However, given the remoteness of the region from both capitals, the last word has not been said on the casualties.

Sangam (Allahabad): Sometimes a walk can change your life -- as well as the lives of millions of others.

Regulatory inspections of nuclear power plants and research facilities have revealed there have been deviation from technical specifications and other regulatory stipulations, deficiencies and degradations in safety-related systems and procedural inadequacies.

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), which carried out 47 regulatory inspections, comprising 25 scheduled and 22 special inspections in 2011-12, observed there were shortcomings in safety design and safety support systems based on operating experience, including generic deficiencies.

The Sikkim earthquake has not impacted the functioning of the country’s 20 nuclear power plants with a total generation capacity of 4,780 Mw. Their continued function proves that the nuclear power plant structures, systems and equipment have been designed in a way that enables them to take the effect of such calamities, an official with the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) said today.

It envisages the proposed Nuclear Regulatory Authority of India would have full power to stop construction work and also order a shut down of an operating nuclear plant. Besides, the bill, currently in circulation for inter-ministerial consultation has a provision of penalty and imprisonment up to six months in the wake of non-compliance. It is proposed that the regulator's order cannot be challenged in a court of law.

A world population analysis reveals the locations that could put the most people in danger should a nuclear accident occur.

http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110427/full/472400a.html

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake of

Fukushima is making people edgy. Especially those who live near India

New Delhi: The radioactive waste, identified as cobalt-60, found in the Mayapuri scrap market last week could have come from more than one source, claims the report submitted by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board to Delhi Police.

But Says All Preventive Steps Have Been Taken And Radiation Levels Are Receding

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