Nationwide atomic alert in Japan

Powerful earthquake along with Tsunami in Japan has taken toll 1700 people dead or unaccounted for, another disaster in Japan of explosion in a nuclear power plant has triggered a nationwide atomic alert.Japan in natural crisis is already reeling under the impact of giant tidal waves, an explosion occurred in the main reactor at Fukushima nuclear plant in northern Japan, 250 kilometres north of Tokyo, this afternoon leading to radiation leaks. Media reports say that the leak has injured four people buts So far, the authorities say, the steel container of the reactor itself has not been breached.Officials fear a meltdown. Residents living within a 20-km radius of the leaking plant have been asked to evacuate their homes. Kyodo news agency reported that the plant is experiencing a nuclear meltdown. This has been confirmed by Japanese nuclear scientists confirmed, after Prime Minister Naoto Kan visited the site in a helicopter early today. Reports said the main building of the plant housing the reactor and the outer walls were blown away in the high intensity explosion, which occurred at noon Indian Standard Time. The cooling water levels dropped alarmingly through evaporation after the quake had damaged the main plant. Jiji Press reported that the loss of cooling water is leading to a meltdown of the reactor. TV footage showed smoke billowing from the site and reported that the reactor building had been destroyed. Nearby residents have been warned to turn off air conditioners and not to drink tap water.