After a deadly ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing factory in Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu that killed 10 people, the Odisha government is into action mode. They kicked off a statewide safety audit for all similar factories in Odisha. The Directorate of Factories and Boilers told every deputy director to start inspecting every seafood processing unit that uses or handles ammonia gas, no exceptions. The state wants these inspections done fast — they set a hard seven-day deadline for detailed reports on current safety procedures and any extra safety measures that might be needed. Officials also have to look for any other factories in their areas where ammonia’s in use and send in reports to make sure everyone’s following the rules and to head off any future disasters.
Meanwhile, Odisha’s Labour Commissioner, Indramani Tripathy, said a special team from the state is still in Tamil Nadu, working closely with local officials to help identify the victims and support the survivors. This tragic leak hit Odisha’s migrant workers hard — eight out of the ten people who died were from Odisha. The most recent victim, Subasi Juanga from Kuntla village in Keonjhar district, died from her injuries on Wednesday. According to the Labour and ESI department, the bodies of five victims were flown back to Odisha on Tuesday, and two more, Sujani and Jamini, returned on Wednesday as reported by The New Indian Express.
Medical teams in Chennai are still treating 33 Odia workers at Vels Hospital, Venkateswara Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, and Stanley Hospital. The situation is tense. Around a dozen of these injured workers are in critical condition, and doctors are keeping a close eye on them.
