Kalpakkam Conducts Nuclear Emergency Drill Ahead of PFBR Power Operations

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) on Friday conducted a full-scale Off-Site Emergency Exercise at the Kalpakkam DAE Centre in Tamil Nadu, simulating a nuclear emergency involving the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) ahead of its power operations. The mandatory drill, held under Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) regulations, assumes significance as the PFBR achieved first criticality on April 6, 2026 , marking the beginning of the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme .

Conducted once every three years in Integrated Command, Control & Response (ICCR) mode, the exercise tested the preparedness of the District Disaster Management Agency (DDMA) and DAE authorities to respond to a hypothetical radiological emergency. Officials said the drill was a regulatory requirement before the reactor enters commercial operation.

The exercise was led by Chengalpattu District Collector Dr. M. Veerappan , the Incident Commander , while technical guidance was provided by the Kalpakkam Emergency Committee (KEC) headed by S.B. Selvakumaran , Station Director of Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) and Site Emergency Director, along with Allu Ananth , Station Director of PFBR.

During the simulation, a hypothetical incident at PFBR escalated into an off-site emergency. After protective measures were initiated within the plant, DDMA coordinated response operations based on prevailing weather conditions and expert advice. In the later phase, the Radiation Emergency Response Director from BARC, Mumbai , guided district authorities. The drill covered Poonjeri , Mamallapuram , and nearby villages without disrupting normal public life.

Kalpakkam houses key nuclear facilities including MAPS , Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) , PFBR and BARC units. The sodium-cooled PFBR is India's first commercial-scale fast breeder reactor and is central to the country's long-term plan to utilise its vast thorium reserves for clean energy.

Officials reiterated that nuclear plants follow the internationally accepted "Defence in Depth" safety philosophy, making such incidents highly unlikely. Around 15 senior officials from NDMA , SDMA , AERB , NDRF , NPCIL and BHAVINI observed the exercise and expressed satisfaction with the overall preparedness and inter-agency coordination.