Tamil Nadu ammonia gas leak death toll rises to 10, 68 still hospitalised
Synopsis
Ten women are dead and 68 workers remain hospitalised — 17 on ventilators — after an ammonia gas leak at a seafood export unit in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district. The majority of victims are migrant workers from Odisha and Assam, raising urgent questions about industrial safety standards and the protection of interstate migrant labour at export-oriented facilities.
Key Takeaways
The ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing unit near Periyapalayam, Tiruvallur district on 21 June has killed 10 workers , all women, as of 24 June .
68 workers remain hospitalised; 17 are on ventilator support and 21 are on oxygen therapy .
A total of 83 workers were affected; five have been discharged after recovery.
Eight of the 10 fatalities were from Odisha , which also accounts for 33 of the hospitalised workers; the remaining two deaths were from Assam .
Five bodies have been airlifted to Odisha; the Tamil Nadu government has ordered a formal inquiry into the incident.
The death toll from the ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing and export facility near Periyapalayam in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district has climbed to 10, with 68 workers still under hospital care across Chennai and surrounding areas, according to the latest bulletin from the Health and Family Welfare Department released on Wednesday, 24 June. All 10 victims were women, health authorities confirmed.
How the Incident Unfolded
The leak occurred on 21 June at the seafood processing unit located at Kannigaipair-Manjangaranai near Periyapalayam, when scores of workers were exposed to toxic ammonia fumes during routine operations. Employees immediately reported breathing difficulties, eye irritation, persistent coughing, and acute respiratory distress, triggering a large-scale emergency response involving medical teams, police, fire and rescue personnel, and public health officials.
A total of 83 workers were affected by the incident. Two workers died on the night of the leak; the toll rose to eight by the following day, with one additional death recorded on 23 June and another confirmed on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative fatality count to 10.
Current Medical Status of Workers
Of the 83 affected workers, five have been discharged after recovery. Among the 68 still hospitalised, 17 patients are on ventilator support and 21 are receiving oxygen therapy. A further 30 workers are reported stable and are being kept under observation.
The injured are being treated at Vels Hospital, Venkateswara Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, and Government Stanley Medical College Hospital.
Migrant Workers Bear the Brunt
The workforce at the facility comprised migrants from multiple states. Odisha accounts for the largest share of affected workers, with 33 persons currently undergoing treatment; eight of the 10 fatalities were from Odisha. Assam accounts for 16 patients, with the remaining two deaths from that state. Nine workers from Jharkhand are also receiving care, alongside workers from Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.
Authorities confirmed that five bodies have already been airlifted to Odisha, while arrangements are being made to transport the remaining mortal remains after completion of legal procedures.
Government Response and Inquiry
The Tamil Nadu government has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. Authorities said medical surveillance of affected workers, environmental monitoring of the factory premises, and a review of industrial safety practices are currently under way. Emergency response teams remain deployed at the site as the situation continues to be closely monitored.
This is the latest in a series of industrial accidents at food processing units in Tamil Nadu, renewing scrutiny over ammonia refrigeration safety standards and migrant worker protections at export-oriented facilities.
Point of View
And the majority of the hospitalised are interstate migrants with limited local support networks. Export-oriented seafood processing units operate under intense cost pressure, and ammonia refrigeration systems — while efficient — are notoriously hazardous when maintenance protocols lapse. Tamil Nadu has ordered an inquiry, but the structural question is whether industrial safety inspections at such units are adequately resourced and independent. The frequency of such incidents nationally suggests they are not.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the ammonia gas leak near Periyapalayam in Tamil Nadu?
The leak occurred on 21 June at a seafood processing and export unit at Kannigaipair-Manjangaranai near Periyapalayam in Tiruvallur district, exposing workers to toxic ammonia fumes during routine operations. The exact technical cause is under investigation as part of the inquiry ordered by the Tamil Nadu government.
How many people have died in the Tamil Nadu ammonia gas leak?
The death toll has risen to 10 as of 24 June, with all victims confirmed to be women. Two workers died on the night of the leak on 21 June, the toll reached eight by the next day, and two further deaths were recorded on 23 and 24 June respectively.
Which states are the affected workers from?
The affected workers include migrants from Odisha, Assam, Jharkhand, Kerala, and West Bengal, as well as workers from Tamil Nadu. Odisha accounts for the largest share, with 33 workers under treatment and eight of the ten fatalities.
What is the current medical condition of hospitalised workers?
Of the 68 workers still hospitalised, 17 are on ventilator support and 21 are receiving oxygen therapy. Another 30 are reported stable and under observation. Five workers have already been discharged after recovery.
What action has the Tamil Nadu government taken after the incident?
The Tamil Nadu government has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. Medical surveillance of affected workers, environmental monitoring of the factory, and a review of industrial safety practices are being carried out. Five bodies have been airlifted to Odisha, with arrangements under way to transport the remaining mortal remains after legal procedures are completed.
