VP Radhakrishnan expresses grief over deaths in Tiruvallur ammonia gas leak, prays for injured workers
New Delhi, June 21
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Sunday expressed grief over the deaths of two women in an ammonia gas leak incident at a seafood export processing unit in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.
In a post on X, the Vice President said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the ammonia gas leak incident at a seafood export unit in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy and complete recovery of those undergoing treatment. My thoughts are with all those affected during this difficult time."
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
Heartbreaking to hear about the women workers who died 😢. 60 women were affected - shows how many women are working in these hazardous conditions for low pay. The CM's Rs 2 lakh ex gratia is welcome but we need better enforcement of safety norms. Prayers for the injured.
Ammonia gas leaks are no joke. These incidents keep happening in our industrial units. Remember the similar incident in a cold storage in Tamil Nadu a few years back? The VP's condolences are fine, but the real question is why safety audits are not taken seriously. Hope the NDRF ensures proper containment now.
Such a tragedy in Tiruvallur. My family is from nearby and we know how many women work in these seafood units. They handle ammonia without proper training or protective gear. The VP expressing grief is standard protocol, but I hope the three-member committee submits a detailed report quickly and action is taken against the company. 🙏
I appreciate VP Radhakrishnan's quick response and condolences. But we need to look beyond grief - why are 64 workers, mostly women, exposed to such risks? The company should be penalized heavily and the families compensated properly. Interim report in 24 hours - good, but let's see if it leads to real implementation of safety measures.
Very unfortunate incident. 23 people in ICU - that's serious. The VP's prayer for recovery is touching, but the state government must ensure that private hospitals don't overcharge the victims' families. Also, need to check if the company had valid insurance coverage for workers. Will be watching the committee's findings.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.