Seven workers died,over 40 others landed in hospital after serious ammonia gas leak hit shrimp processing plant in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district Sunday. Happened at Peter & Paul Seafood Export Company in Periyapalayam. Workers,mostly migrants from northern India,exposed to toxic gas.
Emergency teams,including National Disaster Response Force (NDRF),rushed to scene to help. Of 44 affected,nine taken to Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital,seven in critical condition at Government Stanley Hospital. Others treated at Venkateswara Hospital in Red Hills,Vels Hospital in Manjakaranai.
Chief Minister Vijay ordered enquiry committee to dig into what caused leak. Committee made up of three: Director of Industrial Safety and Health,Member Secretary of Pollution Control Board,Additional Director of Public Health. Interim report expected in 24 hours,final one in three days.
Vijay also sent IT Minister and Tiruvallur Monitoring Minister to site with Monitoring Officer Dr. K.P. Karthikeyan,IAS,to ensure affected get proper medical care,coordinating with local authorities.
To help families of deceased,Chief Minister announced ₹2 lakh compensation each from Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund. Aims to ease financial burden after this tragedy.
Tamil Nadu's Governor,Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar,sent condolences . Extended sympathies to grieving families,called for strength in this tough time. Also hoped for quick recovery of those treated.
Authorities now inspecting seafood unit to find out what caused ammonia leak,stop it from happening again. Incident raises questions about safety protocols in industries with hazardous materials. Especially where many migrant workers employed .
As investigations go on,community deals with tragedy's aftermath,grieving lost lives,hoping injured recover . Government's fast move to set up enquiry,offer compensation shows urgent need to fix safety standards in region's industries…but will it be enough?
