Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has ordered a detailed probe into the incident
At least seven people lost their lives and 67 workers were affected after an ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing and export unit in Manjangaranai near Periyapalayam in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district on Sunday.
According to officials, the gas leak triggered a major emergency response, with dozens of workers requiring immediate medical attention. The incident was reported by the Tiruvallur District Collector’s Office to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), prompting the deployment of a specialised Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) rescue team from Arakkonam.
Acting on the request of the district administration, a 30-member NDRF team equipped with personal protective equipment, gas detection devices and specialised CBRN rescue gear rushed to the site to assist in rescue and containment operations.
Tiruvallur District Collector S. Kavitha said all 67 affected workers were shifted to nearby medical facilities for treatment. Of them, 46 were admitted to Wells Hospital and 21 to Venkateswara Hospital. Nine critically ill patients were later referred to the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai for advanced medical care.
The Collector visited the factory premises and met injured workers at hospitals to assess the situation and review ongoing relief measures. She confirmed that a formal investigation has been ordered to determine the cause of the suspected valve failure and examine whether any safety lapses contributed to the accident.
A senior doctor treating the victims said the majority of those admitted were young women workers. “We admitted a total of 44 patients, including 43 young women and one man. Around 15 to 16 patients were intubated and 11 are currently on ventilator support,” the doctor said.
The doctor added that most of the affected workers are between 24 and 25 years old. Despite the seriousness of the exposure, medical teams remain hopeful of recovery due to the patients’ young age and are closely monitoring their condition. Arrangements are also being made to shift some critically ill patients to government hospitals for specialised treatment.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar expressed grief over the tragedy and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. In a statement, he said he was deeply saddened by the loss of lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of those undergoing treatment.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has ordered a detailed probe into the incident as authorities continue rescue, medical and safety assessment operations at the facility.
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