By: The Trek News Desk
A major industrial accident unfolded in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district on Sunday after an ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing facility left two women dead and more than 60 workers requiring medical treatment.
The victims, identified as Jumani Juang and B. Malothi, were migrant workers from Odisha employed at the factory. Both women lived in staff accommodations located within the company premises.
Following the incident, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay directed the formation of a three-member inquiry panel to determine the cause of the accident and identify any lapses in safety procedures.
The committee includes senior officials from the Industrial Safety and Health Department, the Pollution Control Board, and the Public Health Department. Authorities have been instructed to submit a preliminary report within 24 hours and a detailed report within three days.
The state government has also announced a statewide inspection drive targeting hazardous industrial units to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Chief Minister announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the families of the deceased workers. The Tamil Nadu government will also bear the cost of transporting the victims’ bodies to Odisha for their final rites.
According to police officials, the accident occurred at Peter & Paul Seafood Exports Pvt. Ltd., a shrimp-processing and export company in Kannagiper village near Periyapalayam.
At the time of the leak, 67 employees were present at the facility, most of them migrant women workers. Emergency services were rushed to the site soon after reports of the gas leak emerged.
Police have arrested the factory owner, Mohan, and the facility manager, Daniel, in connection with the incident. A case has been registered against them under provisions related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
District authorities immediately sought assistance from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). A specialised Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) response team comprising approximately 30 personnel was deployed to manage the emergency.
Equipped with protective gear and gas detection equipment, the rescue team evacuated affected workers and coordinated their transfer to nearby hospitals. Several patients in critical condition were later shifted to major government hospitals in Chennai for advanced treatment.
Officials from the Department of Industrial Safety and Health revealed that the company had previously been cited for multiple safety violations. Earlier inspections reportedly found the absence of an adequate alarm system, fire hydrant facilities, and mandatory employee insurance documentation.
Investigators also noted that the company had installed additional machinery without obtaining the necessary revised approvals from regulatory authorities. Despite repeated notices and follow-up inspections, the deficiencies were allegedly not rectified.
As a result, legal proceedings against the company’s management were already pending before a court before the latest accident.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to workplace safety standards in industrial facilities across the country. Experts believe that proper emergency warning systems, regular safety audits, and strict compliance with industrial regulations could significantly reduce the risk of such disasters.
Source: News Agencies
