5 women killed, 60 hospitalised after ammonia gas leak at Tamil Nadu seafood factory | VIDEO

Thiruvallur (Tamil Nadu): A major industrial disaster struck a private seafood export facility on Sunday, resulting in the tragic deaths of five female workers and leaving 60 others hospitalised after a massive ammonia gas leak.

The incident occurred at the St Peter’s Paul Seafoods Exports facility located in Kannigaipair (near Periyapalayam and Manjangaranai) in the Thiruvallur district. Initial assessments indicate that a critical valve failure triggered the toxic gas release, rapidly overwhelming the factory floor.

Thiruvallur District Collector S Kavitha confirmed that a total of 67 affected workers were immediately evacuated and rushed to local medical centres.
 

Describing the distribution of patients, the Collector stated, "A total of 67 affected workers were rushed to local medical centres immediately, 46 to Vels Hospital and 21 to Venkateshwara Hospital."

Despite aggressive medical intervention, police confirmed later on Sunday that five women succumbed to the severe exposure while undergoing emergency treatment.

Medical teams fight to save young workforce

The majority of the affected workforce comprises young women. At a private facility handling the bulk of the casualties, medical teams described a high-stakes effort to stabilise patients suffering from severe respiratory distress and dangerously low blood pressure.

A senior treating doctor from a private hospital updated reporters on the status of the victims.

"We admitted 44 patients in total, comprising 43 young women and one man. Out of these, we have intubated 15 to 16 patients, and 11 are currently on ventilator support. They are alive, and we can monitor their pulse and blood pressure, though their blood pressure is currently tracking quite low. Because they are young, we are optimistic they will recover. We are also arranging to shift four to five of the more critical patients to a government facility for advanced care."

Specialised NDRF CBRN team deployed

Following a distress call from the Thiruvallur District Collector's office, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) 4th Battalion headquarters in Arakkonam was immediately activated.

Under the directions of Senior Commandant Akhilesh Kumar, a specialised 30-member Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) response team from Chennai was rushed to the factory. Equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and advanced gas detection devices, the elite rescue unit successfully isolated the hazardous zone, assessed the atmospheric impact of the chemical leak, and safely evacuated remaining personnel.

District Collector Kavitha visited the factory site to inspect the damage and met with survivors across the various hospitals to oversee relief measures. A formal investigation has been ordered by the district administration to probe potential safety lapses and determine the precise cause of the valve malfunction at the export unit.

Separate tragedy: Factory blast in Thoothukudi

The industrial disaster comes less than 24 hours after another fatal accident in the state. On Saturday, a massive explosion tore through the Balaji Fire Works factory located in Ayan Rajapatti, near Ettayapuram in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district.

According to officials from the Masarpatti Police Station, a worker identified as Mariammal, a resident of Nathathupatti, was killed in the blast. Twenty-six other workers sustained injuries, with three currently listed in critical condition at the Government Hospital in Sattur. The explosion caused extensive structural devastation, completely leveling three rooms of the manufacturing facility and leaving two others on the brink of collapse.

Agencies