Tiruvallur ammonia gas leak: Death toll rises to 9, Odisha most affected
Thiruvallur, June 23
The death toll in the ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing and export factory in Thiruvallur district has risen to nine, with two people from Assam confirmed to have died, according to an official media bulletin from the Tamil Nadu government released on Tuesday. A total of 80 people were affected in the incident that took place on June 21.
As per the bulletin, 69 people are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals, while two have been discharged after recovery. The patients are admitted to Vels Hospital, Venkateswara Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), and Stanley Hospital.
The bulletin also said that one person was reported dead at 7 AM on Tuesday.
The government data shows that the majority of those affected are migrant workers from other states, including Odisha, Assam, Jharkhand, Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu. Odisha accounted for 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 suspected to be from Odisha.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the ammonia leak. The Health Department is continuing to monitor the condition of the injured, while environmental safety checks are being carried out in and around the factory premises.
The leak occurred during routine operations at the factory, exposing workers to toxic ammonia gas.
The affected workers suffered breathing difficulties, coughing, chest pain, and irritation in the eyes and throat. Emergency teams, including police, fire and rescue services, and health officials, rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals.
Earlier, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed profound grief over the death of Odia workers in the ammonia gas leak that occurred in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur.
According to the Chief Minister's Office, the Chief Minister said that he is deeply saddened by the tragic incident. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the workers who lost their lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured Odia workers.
The Chief Minister has announced an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 4 lakh each from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) to the next of kin of every deceased worker.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi's gesture is good, but the state needs better safety education for workers migrating to other states for jobs. These women from tribal communities are vulnerable and need proper training about workplace hazards. Ammonia leaks can be fatal - any delay in response can cost lives. The factory must be blacklisted till investigation completes.
Truly tragic. These incidents highlight the lack of basic safety protocols in Indian factories. I've seen similar cases in export units in other states too. The workers, mostly women from poorer states, are treated as disposable labor. We need stricter implementation of the Factories Act and regular surprise inspections. Praying for the injured and the departed souls. 🙏
I'm from Odisha and this is a shameful reminder of how our people are exploited in other states. Seven women from a single state dead in one accident. The Tamil Nadu government should also announce compensation, not just the Odisha CM. Also, why did the factory not have emergency response systems? Ammonia handling should have been done with proper PPE and gas detectors.
😢 Another industrial tragedy. The names of the deceased are all women from tribal communities like Juanga, Hasda, Soren - it shows the intersection of poverty, gender, and migration. The investigation must be thorough, and the factory owners must face criminal charges if negligence is proved. Also, need better coordination between state governments for migrant worker welfare.
This is a wake-up call for industrial safety in India. Ammonia gas leaks are preventable if proper
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