TN seafood plant gas leak: Death toll rises to 7, all women from Odisha; 68 in hospital
Chennai: The death toll from the ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing and export facility in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district has touched seven, following two more fatalities among the victims. All seven deceased are female migrant workers hailing from Odisha.
The tragedy, which occurred during routine industrial operations on June 21 at the facility near Periyapalayam, has also left 68 other workers hospitalised across various government and private medical institutions.
According to the latest media bulletin from the state Health and Family Welfare Department, a total of 77 people were affected by the toxic fumes. While two individuals have been discharged, 68 workers remain under active medical observation.
The hospitalised victims include 29 workers from Odisha, 20 from Assam, eight from Jharkhand, five from Tamil Nadu, three from Kerala and one from West Bengal, while the home states of two individuals are yet to be confirmed. Those affected primarily presented with acute breathlessness, coughing, chest discomfort and severe irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract.
Emergency services, including medical teams, fire units and police personnel, continue to monitor the site alongside public health authorities. An official investigation into the exact cause of the leak has been launched, and occupational health safety audits have been ordered for similar units in the district.
Meanwhile, cross-state coordination is underway to support the victims. Odisha's Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia stated that efforts are being made to bring back the bodies of the women to their native place in Keonjhar district as soon as possible.
Odisha Labour Commissioner Indramani Tripathy said, "Our officers are at the spot, and they have confirmed that five women from Odisha have died."
Expressing deep grief, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh from the CM's Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased worker.
The Odisha Government remains in constant touch with Tamil Nadu officials to ensure treatment and logistics. Chief Secretary Anu Garg held discussions with her Tamil Nadu counterpart, and a team of Odisha officials has been dispatched to Chennai and Tiruvallur to coordinate post-mortem formalities and medical care.
PTI