The death toll from the ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing unit in Tiruvallur district has risen to five, with three additional fatalities reported as of Monday morning. Sixty-seven people are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals, according to a media bulletin issued by the Tamil Nadu Health department. The incident occurred on Sunday at a shrimp processing unit in Periyapalayam, where two migrant workers from Odisha, Jumani Juang and B.
Malothi, were initially reported killed. The police have arrested the proprietor of the company and the factory manager, who both have a pending case against them for previous industrial safety norm violations. Chief Minister C.
Joseph Vijay has formed a three-member committee to investigate the incident, comprising the Director of Industrial Safety and Health, the Member Secretary of the Pollution Control Board, and the Additional Director of Public Health. The committee is tasked with submitting an interim report within 24 hours and a final report within three days. In response to the incident, the government has mandated immediate joint inspections of all hazardous industries to prevent similar accidents.
The Chief Minister has also ordered a solatium of ₹2 lakh each to be paid to the families of the two deceased workers from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund, and directed that their bodies be transported to their native states for final rites at the Tamil Nadu government’s expense.
