Odisha CM expresses grief over Tiruvallur ammonia gas leak, sends officials to assist affected workers
Bhubaneswar, June 21
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday expressed grief over the ammonia gas leakage incident in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district, which affected several workers, including labourers from Odisha.
In a post on X, Majhi extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
He said the Odisha government was in constant touch with the Tamil Nadu authorities and had deputed senior officials to assist the affected workers and their families.
"Deeply saddened by the tragic ammonia gas leakage incident in Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, which has affected several workers, including Odia workers. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Odisha Government is in constant touch with the Tamil Nadu authorities. Three senior officers are travelling to Tiruvallur to coordinate assistance and extend all possible support to the affected workers and their families," he said.
CM Majhi remarks came after the incident occurred at a private seafood export processing unit in Kannigaiper village near Periyapalayam, where an unexpected ammonia gas leak in the production section affected dozens of workers.
According to an official statement issued by the Tamil Nadu government, 64 workers, including 60 women and four men, were impacted by the leak. Two women lost their lives, while several others were hospitalised for treatment.
Among the affected workers, 15 were admitted to government hospitals for intensive medical observation, while 23 were undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of private hospitals. Another 24 workers were admitted to private hospitals and remained under observation.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expressed shock and sorrow over the tragedy and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to the families of the deceased.
The Chief Minister also ordered the formation of a three-member committee comprising officials from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the Directorate of Public Health to investigate the incident. The panel has been directed to submit an interim report within 24 hours and a final report within three days.
Authorities have also launched rescue, relief and monitoring operations at the site, with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel deployed to assist local administration and ensure public safety.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Another industrial accident in a seafood processing unit. 64 workers affected, mostly women - this is heart-wrenching. The Tamil Nadu government's quick ex gratia is good but we need preventive measures. These factories must have proper ventilation and emergency protocols. My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones. 😢
Good to see inter-state cooperation between Odisha and Tamil Nadu governments. But why do such incidents keep happening? 15 people in ICU, 2 deaths - this is a wake-up call. The 3-member committee must investigate thoroughly and not just file a report that gathers dust. Workers' safety should be non-negotiable.
Seeing this from abroad reminds me how critical workplace safety is. India's industrial growth shouldn't come at the cost of workers' lives. The fact that 60 women were affected shows we need gender-sensitive safety measures too. Hope both governments work together to ensure compensation and better regulations.
My cousin works in a similar factory near Chennai. These incidents make you realise how vulnerable migrant workers are. Appreciate CM Majhi's proactive approach - sending three senior officers shows genuine concern. But we need systemic changes: regular safety drills, better equipment maintenance, and strict enforcement of safety laws.
Respectful suggestion: while ex gratia payments help, they don't compensate for lost life. The families need long-term support - education for children, employment for dependents. Also, why was ammonia used without proper safety systems in place? This is a failure of factory inspection mechanisms.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.