Thousands of sensitive files linked to India’s Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant have reportedly been leaked on the dark web, according to the BBC.
The leaked data reportedly includes plant blueprints, supplier information, inspection records, and other sensitive documents. Reports also claim that details of the plant’s cooling system and emergency cooling system are now publicly available online.
According to the BBC, India’s Nuclear Power Corporation has been accused of trying to hide facts related to the incident. Some nuclear experts have also questioned official claims that the situation is fully under control.
Edwin Lyman, Director of Nuclear Power Safety, warned that leaked information about equipment, pipelines, cables, doors, and other internal systems could create serious security risks for the plant.
Princeton University professor Frank N. von Hippel said that the leaked details of the cooling and emergency cooling systems could make the nuclear facility more vulnerable to possible attacks.
Reports said the leaked information came from data belonging to Reliance Infrastructure, a contractor linked to the Kudankulam project. Global media also reported that Units 3 and 4 of the plant are being built by a company from the Ambani Group.
The leaked files have reportedly been available on the dark web since June. India’s cyber emergency agency, CERT-In, is investigating the incident, while other government agencies have not publicly commented.
A Reuters-cited survey by the Data Security Council of India found that 73% of Indian organizations do not know whether they have ever been affected by a cyberattack, while 57% lack basic cybersecurity measures.
Security analysts have raised concerns about the protection of India’s critical infrastructure. They also pointed to past incidents involving radioactive materials, including uranium seizures and the 2010 Cobalt-60 radiation accident in Delhi, as examples of ongoing security challenges.
The reported leak is being described by some defence experts as the second major security incident involving sensitive documents at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.
