Last weekend I read in the news that there was an accident on Balakovo nuclear power station. Balakovo is the city in Saratov region, about 170 km from Saratov, the city where I lived and where my parents still live. Of course, Chernobyl immediately came to my mind. You can blame the communist government as much as you wish, but at least there was some order back then. Organized evacuations, free medical assistance, all that. Happen Chernobyl now, when the country is in chaos -- God knows what it would look like. And God (at least in Russia) is unemployed. My soul was in chaos too.

The information was mixed. According to the officials, nothing serious happened, there was no danger for the population. The population, however, still remembers 1986 Chernobyl's disaster, when the officials told the same, until it was to late to hide the truth. The panic started. Several colleges in nearby regions (which is about the same as US states) canceled classes. Some companies gave their employees a free day to stay home. This only increased the panic. Iodine was bough out and taken inside in mad doses. Hospitals started to receive patients with burnt throats. Most advanced radiation fighters helped iodine with vodka. Vodka in Russia is time-proven universal medicine, which can cure everything but cancer and delirium tremens. After 1986, it was also considered good in keeping radiation away.

The plant worked and is working safely. The radiation in the area did not and do not exceed the normal levels of the European Russia region, a plant personnel member said.

The plant security service is investigating at present from where rumours about an accident at the station were spread.

Itar-Tass

My parents didn't show any panic, they were even joking. Apparently, this time there really was nothing serious. It is said, that history repeats itself twice, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce. Perhaps, farce is tragedy you get used to.