Seven women lost their lives while receiving medical care after an ammonia gas leak was reported at a private seafood processing and export facility in Manjangaranai, near Periyapalayam, in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district on Sunday.
According to Tiruvallur District Collector S. Kavitha, a total of 67 workers affected by the leak were rushed to nearby medical facilities. Of them, 46 were admitted to Vels Hospital, while 21 received treatment at Venkateshwara Hospital. 9 patients were later shifted to Government Stanley Medical College Hospital, Chennai for advanced treatment.
A senior doctor treating the victims stated that 44 patients, including 43 women and one man, had been admitted to the hospital. The doctor said that 15 to 16 patients required intubation, while 11 were placed on ventilator support. Most of the affected workers were young women aged between 24 and 25 years.
Medical teams reported that several patients remained in critical condition but were showing vital signs, including detectable pulse and blood pressure. Hospital authorities expressed cautious optimism regarding their recovery due to their relatively young age.
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Migrant Workers Among the Victims
Officials identified two of the deceased as 19-year-old Jumani Juwang and Malothi, daughter of Biro, both residents of Odisha. The Tiruvallur District Collectorate confirmed that the two women were employed at the seafood processing facility where the gas leak occurred.
The factory employed migrant workers from several states, including Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar. Following the leak, many workers reported breathing difficulties and other health complications. Emergency services transported the affected individuals to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment.
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Following the ammonia gas leak, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was promptly informed and deployed personnel from its 4th Battalion based in Arakkonam. The team joined local officials in managing the emergency situation and carrying out relief measures. District Collector S. Kavitha also visited affected workers undergoing treatment and reviewed the response efforts.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay constituted a three-member committee to investigate the incident. The panel includes the Director of Industrial Safety and Health, the Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, and the Additional Director of Public Health.
The committee has been instructed to submit an interim report within 24 hours and a comprehensive report within three days. The findings are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the gas leak and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
