2 dead in ammonia gas leak in TN’s Tiruvallur

Two female workers died and 62 others were hospitalised following a major ammonia gas leak at an export factory in Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has ordered an immediate high-level probe into the incident

Tiruvallur (Tamil Nadu): Two women died and 62 others were affected following an ammonia gas leak at the production unit of a private fish meal export factory in Tiruvallur district on Sunday, the Tamil Nadu government said.

The incident happened at Kannigaipair village near Periyapalayam.

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According to a government press release, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has instructed to form a three-member committee with Director of Industrial Safety and Health, Member Secretary, Pollution Control Board and Additional Director of Public Health and submit an interim report in 24 hours and final report in three days.

Earlier, the police said the death toll was seven, but a CMO release and Health Minister KG Arunraj later put it at two.

Speaking to reporters, Arunraj said that ammonia gas leak with an impact of this scale has never happened.

“Doctors say we haven’t seen cases with such high levels anywhere in else,” the minister said.

He also said the health condition of some patients show a worsening trend, adding that critical patients have been shifted out of private hospitals to government hospitals.

Both patients who have been declared dead were treated in private hospitals, he added.

“One person was brought dead to the private hospital, and the other person passed away without responding to treatment there,” he said.

According to the minister, there are 28 patients at Vels Medical College, 18 at Venkateshwara Hospital, 10 at Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital (MMC) and seven at Government Stanley Hospital.

A total of 64 workers on duty, comprising 60 women and four men, were affected by the sudden gas leak.

CM Vijay announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund to the families of the deceased.

The Chief Minister has also ordered that the mortal remains of the deceased be transported to their native states for final rites at the government’s expense.

To prevent the recurrence of such accidents, the government has mandated immediate joint inspections of all hazardous industries, stated the government press release.

Meanwhile, taking to X, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arleker expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic ammonia gas leak incident at a shrimp processing factory in Kannigaipair Village , near Periyapalayam, Thiruvallur district, which has resulted in the loss of precious lives and caused injuries to several workers,” wrote the Governor.