"The institute has been involved in giving extensive training on radiation disaster management to both civilian and officers of the armed forces," Director of INMAS T Ravindranath told reporters here.

As part of its preparedness to deal with such an eventuality, the institute's scientists had developed a skin decontamination kit, Shudhika, The kit had been made in accordance with the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and International Atomic Energy Agency guidelines. It includes decontanimants such as liquid soap, sterile water, sodium bicarbonate solution, oxalic acid and citric acid.

It provides easy-to-use decontamination procedures to the members of quick respoonse teams and also to vulnerable population. It saves the precious response time during the management of nucelar disasters, he said.

The institute had also designed special protective suit for rescue team from hygienic, breathable polymer which is waterproof and allows condensation and water vapour out. It is under evaluation for physiological parameters, he said.

INMAS has issued do's and don'ts in the event of a nuclear explosion. One should not look directly at the ball of fire to avoid retinl burns. People in the open unprotected areas should lie down on ground with eyes closed. One should use wet handerchief or towel to cover nose and head to prevent inhalation of radioactive waste.