Chennai: Following the earthquake tremors in Chennai and tidal waves inundating Kalpakkam (where around 20 people had lost their lives to the tidal waves), the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) has temporarily shut down its two 170 MW reactors. It is learnt that seawater has entered the plant complex.

According to Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the reactors were shut down as a precautionary measure, even though there had been no release of radiation. The meteorological department has warned of tidal waves and after-shocks or earthquake during the next two days.

Kalpakkam is the country's atomic island housing MAPS and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research's (IGCAR) Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR). Recently, prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had launched the construction of the 500 MW fast breeder reactor. Offcials were not able to confirm the extent of water seepage, if any, in another mega nuclear power project coming up in Kudankulam, a coastal town in Tamil Nadu.