Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has formed a three-member committee to probe the ammonia gas leak incident at a shrimp processing unit in Periyapalayam, Tiruvallur district, which resulted in the death of seven workers. The committee, comprising the Director of Industrial Safety and Health, Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, and Additional Director of Public Health, will submit an interim report within 24 hours and a final report in three days.
The Chief Minister has also directed the Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology and Digital Services, R. Kumar, and the Monitoring Officer for Tiruvallur district, K.P. Karthikeyan, to provide the best possible care to the affected workers in coordination with the District Collector and the district administration.
Meanwhile, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar condoled the deaths of the workers in the incident, expressing his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the speedy recovery of those undergoing treatment. The incident occurred at St Peter’s Paul Seafoods Exports Private Limited at Kannigaipair near Periyapalayam, where a total of 67 affected workers were rushed to local medical centers immediately. At least seven people were killed, and several others were hospitalized after the ammonia gas leak.
Minister for Public Works Aadhav Arjuna and Minister for School Education Rajmohan have been instructed to rush to Stanley Medical College Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital to oversee coordinated efforts with the Deans of the institutions. The State government will take steps to send the mortal remains of the deceased persons to their home state. Chief Minister Vijay has also ordered ₹2 lakh each to be paid to the families of the deceased persons as solatium from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.
