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CHENNAI: The death toll in the ammonia gas leak incident at a seafood processing unit in Tiruvallur district increased to eight on Monday, with 70 workers continuing to undergo treatment or were under medical observation at multiple hospitals.A health department bulletin said two women died by 8pm, when the incident was first reported, on June 21. Three more fatalities were recorded by 7am on June 22, followed by three more deaths by 7pm the same day, taking the total number of deaths to eight.Out of the 80 gas-hit people, 70 are now undergoing treatment, while two have been discharged. The remaining cases account for the fatalities reported so far.The victims are being treated at Vels Hospital and Venkateswara Hospital in Tiruvallur district, Rajiv Gandhi Govt General Hospital (RGGGH) and Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai.As many as 27 patients are admitted at Vels Hospital, 18 at Venkateswara Hospital, 12 at RGGGH and 13 at Stanley Hospital.The affected workers are from various states, with Odisha alone accounting for the highest number of victims at 29, followed by Assam with 19 and Jharkhand with eight. Eight affected people were from Tamil Nadu, three from Kerala, one from West Bengal, while the identities of two others are yet to be confirmed.Seven of the deceased were women, most of them were from Odisha. The victims were identified as Shibani, Jumani Juang, Geetha Juanga, Purnima Juanga, Champabati Juanga, Parbavathi Jaunga and Sita Hasda. One deceased woman is yet to be identified but is suspected to be Phulomani Juanga from Odisha.“Authorities have initiated an investigation into the source and cause of the leak. We have also recommended continuous surveillance of exposed workers for delayed respiratory complications, environmental monitoring of the affected premises, a review of industrial safety and emergency response systems, and occupational health and safety audits at similar facilities in the district.The situation continues to be closely monitored and remains under surveillance,” said health secretary Darez Ahmed.Doctors treating the patients said prolonged exposure to ammonia had caused severe respiratory distress, facial swelling and lung damage among the patients, and critical patients have been transferred to the govt hospitals in Chennai. Stanley govt medical college hospital Dr A Aravind said, “As many as 13 patients are being treated at the hospital, of which three critically ill patients expired in the last two days. One more patient referred from Vels hospital is in critical condition.”
