Tiruvallur ammonia leak death toll climbs to 9, 69 still hospitalised
Synopsis
Nine workers — most of them women migrants from Odisha and Assam — have died after an ammonia gas leak at a Tiruvallur seafood plant on 21 June 2025. With 69 still hospitalised and a government probe underway, the disaster has put Tamil Nadu's industrial safety record under sharp scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
The ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing unit near Periyapalayam, Tiruvallur occurred on 21 June 2025 .
The death toll has risen to nine as of Tuesday, 24 June 2025 , with 69 workers still under treatment.
A total of 80 people were affected, according to the Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department .
Seven of the nine dead were from Odisha ; the remaining two were from Assam — most were women migrant workers.
The injured are being treated at four hospitals including Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and Government Stanley Medical College Hospital .
A three-member state government committee was expected to submit its interim report to Chief Minister C.
Joseph Vijay on Tuesday.
Nine workers have died and 69 others remain hospitalised following a deadly ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing and export facility near Periyapalayam in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, with health authorities confirming the latest fatality on Tuesday, 24 June 2025. The incident, which erupted on 21 June at a unit in the Kannigaipair-Manjangaranai area, has been described as one of the state's most serious industrial accidents in recent years.
Rising Casualty Count
The toll has climbed steadily since the night of the leak. Two deaths were recorded on 21 June itself. By Monday evening, the figure had reached six. Three more workers succumbed to their injuries by Tuesday morning, pushing the total to nine. According to the Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department, a total of 80 people were affected by the gas leak. Of these, two have recovered and been discharged, while 69 remain under medical observation.
Who the Victims Were
Most of those killed were women migrant workers employed at the seafood processing unit. Official records confirm that seven of the nine fatalities were workers from Odisha, while the remaining two were from Assam. Many were on duty when the leak occurred, with doctors noting that ammonia inhalation caused severe respiratory complications — including breathing difficulties, eye and airway irritation, persistent coughing, and acute respiratory distress.
Treatment and Emergency Response
The injured are being treated across multiple facilities: Vels Hospital, Venkateswara Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, and Government Stanley Medical College Hospital. Emergency response teams, ambulances, and public health personnel were deployed immediately after the incident. Police, fire, and rescue services coordinated evacuation and rescue operations. Health officials confirmed that continuous monitoring of all exposed workers is ongoing, and environmental surveillance has been launched around the factory premises to assess any lingering contamination.
Investigation and Government Response
The Tamil Nadu government has ordered a review of industrial safety measures and emergency response mechanisms at the facility. A three-member committee appointed by the state government to investigate the incident was expected to submit its interim report to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday. Authorities said the exact cause of the ammonia leak remains under investigation. This incident comes amid longstanding concerns about the safety standards enforced at food processing and cold-storage units across Tamil Nadu, where ammonia-based refrigeration systems are widely used but unevenly inspected.
Point of View
Yet regulatory inspections of such units remain inconsistent. The state government's three-member probe committee is a necessary step, but the pattern of post-disaster reviews rarely translates into enforceable change. The real accountability question is not just what caused this leak, but why migrant workers at a private export unit had so little protection when it did.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the ammonia gas leak at the Tiruvallur seafood factory?
The exact cause of the ammonia gas leak at the seafood processing unit in the Kannigaipair-Manjangaranai area of Tiruvallur district is still under investigation, according to authorities. The incident occurred on 21 June 2025 and a state-appointed three-member committee is probing the circumstances.
How many people have died in the Tiruvallur ammonia leak?
Nine people have died as of Tuesday, 24 June 2025. Two deaths were reported on the night of 21 June, the toll rose to six by Monday evening, and three more workers succumbed by Tuesday morning.
Who were the victims of the Tiruvallur gas leak?
Most of the victims were women migrant workers employed at the seafood processing facility. Seven of the nine who died were from Odisha, and two were from Assam, according to official records.
Where are the injured workers being treated?
The 69 workers still under treatment are being cared for at Vels Hospital, Venkateswara Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, and Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai and Tiruvallur.
What action has the Tamil Nadu government taken after the gas leak?
The Tamil Nadu government has ordered a review of industrial safety measures at the facility and appointed a three-member committee to investigate the incident. The committee was expected to submit its interim report to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday. Environmental surveillance around the factory has also been launched.
