Bhubaneswar: : The death toll among workers from Odisha in the ammonia gas leak mishap at a seafood processing factory in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district has touched 13 with another woman from Kendujhar district succumbing on Saturday.
A Tamil Nadu Health department bulletin identified the deceased as Kabita Juanga of Raisuan village.
The June 21 incident exposed several workers to toxic fumes, resulting in multiple casualties and hospitalisations, with Odisha accounting for the majority of the victims, many of whom were employed at the facility, which also provided on-site accommodation. Mortal remains of 12 victims have so far been airlifted to Odisha. The bodies were brought back to the state in four phases between June 23 and June 26 by flights and Mahaprayan hearses. Among them 11 were from Kendujhar and one from Anugola.
Another 23 from the state are still undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Chennai.
Meanwhile, 62 migrant workers, who survived the ammonia gas leak, arrieved at Bhubaneswar railway station on Saturday. Four among them were discharged from hospital after undergoing treatment. Among the returnees, 58 were from Keonjhar district while one each belonged to Koraput, Rayagada, Mayurbhanj and Dhenkanal. Buses were arranged to transport them to their respective districts.
Notably, the Odisha government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for the next of kin of all the deceased migrant workers.
