Major accident in Tamil Nadu: Ammonia gas leak in sea-food export unit, 7 workers dead, more than 60 unconscious
Chennai. Seven workers died and over 60 others fell unconscious in an ammonia gas leak incident at a private lobster processing center near Periyapalayam in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday afternoon. According to reports received here, the workers had become unconscious due to suffocation due to inhalation of highly poisonous gas. They were taken to two private hospitals for treatment, where all seven workers died.
It is being told that all those who died were residents of North and East India. Inflammation of the lungs due to excessive inhalation of gas is believed to be the cause of death. Earlier, as soon as the news of gas leakage was received in a company named Santi Peter and Paul Seafood Exports Pvt. Ltd., there was panic there. Many workers got gas in their bodies and due to difficulty in breathing, they started fainting one by one. Some of them also started bleeding from the nose and mouth, while others complained of severe burning sensation in the eyes.
According to reports, more than 60 workers were taken to private hospitals through ambulances called from all the nearby hospitals. While 46 workers were admitted to Wells Hospital at Manjankaranai in the district, 21 others were taken to Venkateswara Hospital. Six people died soon after hospitalization at Wells Hospital, where 40 others are undergoing treatment, while another worker succumbed to his injuries at Venkateswara Hospital, where 20 workers are undergoing treatment.
The condition of many of the injured is said to be critical and they have been kept in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The seven injured women were taken to the Government Stanley Medical College in Chennai for better treatment, where one of them is on ventilator support as her condition is critical. Two others have been sent to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai for further treatment. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were immediately sent to the spot to help in relief work.
Tamil Nadu government took action on the incident
Meanwhile, taking serious note of the incident, the Tamil Nadu government has ordered a high-level inquiry headed by Dr Shantaram, Dean, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, to find out the cause of the gas leak. This committee has been given the responsibility of conducting a detailed investigation of the incident and submitting a report. The police have registered an FIR against the company in this matter and its owner has been arrested, while some more officials of the company have been detained for questioning.
Minister and Chief Minister expressed grief over the accident
Kumar, the Tamil Nadu minister in-charge of Tiruvallur district, immediately reached both the private hospitals, met the injured and inquired about their health from the doctors. Describing the incident as unfortunate, he told reporters that a total of 60 women and four men affected by the gas leak were being treated. Chief Minister Vijay has expressed deep grief over this incident and has directed the health department to provide the best treatment to the injured. The Chief Minister is being continuously informed about this development.
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