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| Sunday, 2 June 2002 |
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Experts alert for fall-out from Indo-Pak nuke war by Anton Nonis The possibility of a nuclear war on the Sub-continent and its harmful effects on Sri Lanka has alerted the country's scientific establishment while the disaster management authorities have begun consulting experts on safety measures against radioactive fall-out. Scientists and weather experts told the 'Sunday Observer' that in the event of a nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan, if nuclear missiles target centres in South India, there was a danger that radioactive debris from the explosions could be blown by southward winds towards Sri Lanka. There was also the danger that missiles may be poorly targeted and could overshoot their designated targets and hit the island instead. Atomic Energy Authority Chairman Professor Prinath Dias told the 'Sunday Observer' that there was a considerable danger of winds blowing radioactive dust from nuclear explosions on the South Indian mainland towards Sri Lanka. The dust could also be brought by rain clouds. It all depended whether such explosions sent dust high enough to catch the south-easterly and easterly winds, according to Meteorology Director N.A. Amaradasa. "it is also possible that a misdirection of such weapons could result in missing their intended target and reaching Sri Lanka" Professor Dias pointed out. Defence officials said that the effects from a nuclear was were so intense and so widespread that the country lacked the capacity to ensure any public safety in the event. "Fallout shelters as in the Us and the USSR are far too costly for us", they said. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Centre of the Ministry of Social Services is already alerted to the danger and is consulting experts on public safety measures. A technical committee was meeting on the issue, officials said. |
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