Onions used to absorb nuclear radiation in Pokhran

In 1998, during the Pokhran nuclear test, tonnes of onions were buried along with nuclear bombs to absorb harmful radiations emitted during a nuclear explosion. Onions absorb the Gamma radiations that cause harmful changes in DNA. The nuclear bombs were sandwiched between layers of onions to prevent radiation leak. This had even led to a shortage of onions across India.