THIRUVALLUR, Tamil Nadu, June 23 — The death toll in the ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing and export factory in Tamil Nadu’s Thiruvallur district has risen to nine, according to an official bulletin released by the state government on Tuesday.
Authorities said a total of 80 people were affected in the incident, which occurred on June 21. One additional death was reported at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, the bulletin added.
Of those affected, 69 people are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals, while two have been discharged after recovery. Patients are admitted to Vels Hospital, Venkateswara Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, and Stanley Hospital.
Officials confirmed that the majority of those impacted were migrant workers from several states, including Odisha, Assam, Jharkhand, Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu. Odisha reported the highest number of victims, followed by Assam.
Among the nine deceased, seven were from Odisha and two from Assam. All the victims were women. The deceased have been identified as Shibani, Jumani Juanga, Geetha Juanga, Purnima Juanga, Champabati Juanga, Parvathi Jaunga, Sita Hasda, and Anjila Soren, along with one unidentified woman believed to be from Odisha.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the ammonia leak. Health officials are monitoring the condition of the injured, while environmental safety checks are being conducted at and around the factory premises.
The leak occurred during routine operations at the facility, exposing workers to toxic ammonia gas and causing breathing difficulties, coughing, chest pain, and irritation in the eyes and throat.
Emergency teams, including police, fire and rescue services, and health officials, were deployed to the site, and the injured were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief over the deaths and announced ex gratia assistance of ₹4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
About The Author
