UPI Archives
By (0)
MOSCOW A 52-year-old physicist who helped restored order after the Chernobyl nuclear accident committed suicide when he was scorned by peers who criticized his handling of the disaster, Pravda newspaper reported Monday.
Valery Legasov, who helped bring the fire at the out-of control Chernobyl reactor under control, became despondent over his ostracism by fellow scientists, the official organ of the Soviet Communist Party said.
Advertisement
Legasov flew to Chernobyl after the No. 4 reactor at the nuclear plant 80 miles north of Kiev exploded and caught fire. At least 31 people died in the explosion and its aftermath, in the world s worst nuclear accident.