GUWAHATI: The death toll in the ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing unit in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district has risen to nine, with two women from Assam among those who lost their lives.
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The deceased from Assam have been identified as Sita Hasda and Anjila Soren. They were among a group of migrant workers affected by the gas leak that occurred on June 21 during routine industrial operations at a private seafood processing and export unit in the Kannigaipair-Manjungarai area near Periyapalayam, on the outskirts of Chennai.
According to a health department statement, the other victims were women from Odisha identified as Shibani, Jumani Juang, Geetha Juanga, Purnima Juanga, Champabati Juanga, and Parbavathi Juanga.
Officials reportedly said that the affected workers experienced symptoms associated with ammonia inhalation, including breathlessness, irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, coughing, chest discomfort and varying degrees of respiratory distress.
The workers affected by the incident were primarily migrants from Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand, Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
According to the Tamil Nadu Health Department, 80 people were affected by the leak. Of them, 69 remain under treatment, while two have been discharged from hospital. Authorities said the condition of the affected workers is being closely monitored and medical assistance is being provided.
Following the incident, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay ordered a probe and constituted a three-member committee comprising the Director of Industrial Safety and Health, the Member Secretary of the Pollution Control Board and the Additional Director of Public Health.
