At least seven women died while 60 other workers were hospitalised after an ammonia gas leak was reported at a seafood processing unit in Tamil Nadu’s Thiruvallur district on Sunday.
The incident took place at St Peter’s Paul Seafoods Exports facility in Kannigaipair near Periyapalayam in the district. Following the incident at the shrimp processing unit, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) 4th Battalion’s headquarters in Arakkonam was immediately alerted about the emergency.
According to a report in PTI, the women died during treatment. A total of 67 affected workers were rushed to local medical centres immediately, Thiruvallur District Collector S Kavitha said.
According to her, 46 were being treated at Vels Hospital and 21 at Venkateshwara
Hospital. Nine of the most critically ill patients have since been mobilised via ambulances to the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai.
CM Vijay Announces Rs 2L Ex Gratia
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those who died in the gas leak incident and directed that the injured be provided the best possible medical treatment. He also ordered inspections of hazardous industries across the state to prevent similar accidents.
3-Member Panel Formed To Probe Gas Leak
Further, the Chief Minister has 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 to investigate the incident, directing it to submit an interim report within 24 hours and a final report within three days.
He further instructed the state’s IT Minister and Tiruvallur district monitoring officials to visit the affected area and coordinate relief efforts with the district administration to ensure comprehensive care for those impacted.
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-178219090641820774.webp)
