Chennai/Bhubaneswar: The toll in the ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing and export unit in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district climbed to nine on Tuesday, with seven victims being women from Odisha and two from Assam.
Dozens more workers, primarily migrants, remain hospitalised, many in critical condition.
The incident occurred on June 21 at a private facility near Periyapalayam. Ammonia, used in the plant’s cooling system, leaked and spread rapidly, affecting around 80 workers who were resting in nearby hostel rooms. Victims suffered severe respiratory distress and other symptoms from inhaling the toxic gas. Among them, 69 were admitted to nearby hospitals.
According to Tamil Nadu’s Health and Family Welfare Department bulletin, two fatalities were initially reported on June 21 evening, with additional 6 deaths by 7 pm on June 22, one on Monday, while another died at 7 this morning.
Five of the deceased were confirmed as young women from Odisha’s Keonjhar district, all belonging Juang community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) who had migrated for work. Identified victims include Gumani Juanga (15) of Rangamatia village, Phulomani Juanga, Shibani Juanga, Geeta Juanga, Champabati Juanga, Purnima Juanga, and Parbati Juanga.
Gumani’s grandmother, Tulasi Juanga, said that she had trave
lled outside the state since there were no job opportunities in the state. “My grandson informed us about her death. They had left home for work after Kali Puja. The brother-sister duo had sent Rs 10,000 home,” she said, they don’t have money to bring back the body and her funeral.
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.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced Rs 4 lakh in financial assistance to the next of kin of each deceased and confirmed that a state team is coordinating the return of bodies after postmortem. A labour department team has been sent to Tamil Nadu for support and medical coordination. Additional support includes accommodation in a community hall and ongoing coordination for care and repatriation. “… We sent a team comprising of the special secretary of labour department along with two senior officials… I am in touch with the Chief Secretary of the state. They are making all possible arrangements. All the people who have been affected are being treated in either government or private hospitals… We will be getting back the bodies of the deceased soon…,” Chief Secretary Anu Garg told the media.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expressed condolences, ordered a three-member inquiry committee, including officials from Industrial Safety, Pollution Control Board, and Public Health), and announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia per family from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The factory owner and manager have been arrested and they reportedly faced prior industrial safety violations.
The NHRC has also taken suo motu cognizance of the incident and has issued notices to Tamil Nadu chief secretary and director general of police, directing them to submit a detailed report on the incident within two weeks.