USS Nimitz to dock in Chennai today

The US nuclear powered warship and aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is to dock in Chennai Port today and will remain stationed here till July 5.

Chennai, June 25 : The US nuclear powered warship and aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is to dock in Chennai Port today and will remain stationed here till July 5.

The USS Nimitz is one of the world's largest aircraft carriers with 90 fighters and helicopters on board.

Defence Minister A K Antony said on Monday that the visit of the warship to India was part of efforts to expand bilateral defence cooperation.

Meanwhile, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Suresh Mehta has ruled out any fear of radiations from the USS Nimitz.

"It is the government of India's job to see that the safety of the people is ensured. There are set procedures for it. These have been followed in this case and there is nothing to worry," Admiral Mehta told reporters in Kolkata yesterday.

The statement comes in after Water Transport Workers' Federation of India General Secretary T Narendra Rao warned that even if there was a small radiation from the USS Nimitz, Chennai and its surrounding areas could be affected.

The Chennai Port Trust has reportedly made arrangements to face any eventuality in the wake of the ship's proposed visit, including vacating a hospital complex to treat people in case of a nuclear radiation.

The Department of Atomic Energy has also sent a consignment of medicines as a contingency measure.

Port Trust Chairman K Suresh also said the fear about nuclear radiation was ''unwarranted and unnecessary as the warship had already visited many countries as part of its global cruise''.

ANI