Singh told parliament that the department of atomic energy and its agencies "have been instructed to undertake an immediate technical review of all safety systems of our nuclear power plants."

The inspection was aimed to "ensure that they would be able to withstand large natural disasters such as tsunamis and earthquakes," he said.

"I would like to assure members that the government attaches the highest importance to nuclear safety."

Energy-hungry India is one of the world's biggest markets for nuclear technology, with plans to reach a nuclear power capacity of 63,000 megawatts by 2032, from the current level of 4,560 megawatts.