The death toll in the ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing and export facility in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district rose to nine on Tuesday, the government said. The toxic leak took place during routine industrial operations on June 21, and all those who died were women.
The Health Department said 69 people were admitted to hospitals and their condition was being closely monitored. It said monitoring and assessment of the affected area were also being carried out to ensure public safety, while district authorities and healthcare institutions were coordinating treatment, surveillance and response activities.
According to the department, seven of the women who died were from Odisha and two were from Assam. Eight of the deceased were identified as Shibani, Jumani Juang, Geetha Juanga, Purinama Juanga, Champabati Juanga, Parbavathi Juanga, Sita Hasda and Anjita Soren, while one person was yet to be identified.
The leak happened at the facility in the Kannigaipair/Manjungaranai area near Periyapalayam. The affected persons were admitted to hospitals with severe symptoms of ammonia inhalation, including acute breathlessness, coughing, chest discomfort, and irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract.
Of those admitted, 27 were under treatment at Vels Hospital, 18 at Venkateswara Hospital, 11 at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, and 13 at Stanley Medical College Hospital. Two others had already been discharged.
The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. The Health Department said it would continue to closely monitor the situation and ensure appropriate medical care for all those affected, as the toll stood at nine and those in hospital remained under observation.
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