Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Tuesday increased the financial assistance to the families of workers from Odisha, who lost their lives in the ammonia gas leak incident at Thiruvallur in Tamil Nadu.
Expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy, the Chief Minister conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. He had earlier announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the nearest kin of each deceased worker from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF). The assistance amount has now been increased to Rs 10 lakh per family.
The announcement comes as a gesture of support from the Odisha government to the grieving families of the migrant workers affected by the industrial accident in Tamil Nadu, a CMO release said.
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.
A labour department team from Odisha is already in Tamil Nadu for support and medical coordination. “… 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.
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.