Bhubaneswar: The mortal remains of five Odia workers, who died in the ammonia gas leak mishap at a seafood processing unit in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district, arrived at Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi paid floral tributes and offered his final respects to the deceased workers, who belonged to the Juang tribal community of Kendujhar district. Majhi also met the family members and expressed condolences after the bodies were brought to Bhubaneswar airport.
Earlier in the day, Majhi announced an increase in ex gratia assistance from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for the families of each deceased worker from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF). The hike came after the state government reviewed the situation following a rise in the death toll.
Expressing deep grief over the tragedy, the Chief Minister conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and assured all possible support from the government.
The incident occurred on Sunday at a seafood processing unit in Tiruvallur, where an ammonia gas leak left several workers injured, including migrant labourers from Odisha.
Meanwhile, the toll in the ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing and export unit has climbed to nine, with seven victims being women from Odisha and two from Assam. Those from Odisha include Gumani Juanga (15) of Rangamatia village, Phulomani Juanga, Shibani Juanga, Geeta Juanga, Champabati Juanga, Purnima Juanga, and Parbati Juanga. All the deceased belong to Juang community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) who had migrated for work.
Another 22 from the state are undergoing treatment at Venkateshwara Medical College Hospital, Vels Medical College Hospital, Government Stanley Medical College Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, with some on ventilators.
