Few workers who were in critical condition after an ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing factory in Tiruvallur admitted at RGGGH in Chennai on Sunday, June 21, 2026.
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu
The toll in the ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing unit in Tiruvallur district went up to eight after six more affected workers died on Monday (June 22, 2026). All eight victims are women — seven from Odisha and one from Assam.
Tamil Nadu ammonia gas leak updates on June 21, 2026
According to the bulletin, a total of 77 individuals were reported as affected in the incident, and two of them died on Sunday (June 21). As of 7 a.m. on Monday (June 22) three additional fatalities were reported, and by 5 p.m., two more persons died. Two individuals were discharged after treatment.
The deceased were identified as Shibani, Jumani Juang, Geetha Juanga, Purnima Juanga, Champabati Juanga, and Parbavathi Jaunga, while the identity of one deceased person remains unknown. Three persons died at Vels Hospital, while one death each was reported at Venkateswara Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), and two deaths were reported at Government Stanley Medical College Hospital.
The Health Department said 68 individuals were currently receiving treatment at various hospitals. Twenty of them were from Assam, 29 from Odisha, eight from Jharkhand, three from Kerala, one from West Bengal, five from Tamil Nadu, while the native States of the remaining two were yet to be confirmed. Of those hospitalised, 28 were admitted to Vels Hospital, 18 to Venkateswara Hospital, 12 to RGGGH, and 10 to Government Stanley Medical College Hospital.
The Health Department continues to closely monitor the situation and ensure the availability of appropriate medical care for all the affected persons. It is coordinating with the district authorities and the healthcare institutions to facilitate timely treatment, surveillance and response activities.
Incident and response
The ammonia gas leak was reported on Sunday (June 21) at a private seafood processing and export facility in Kannigaipair/Manjangaranai area near Periyapalayam in Tiruvallur district. The incident is reported to have occurred during routine industrial operations, resulting in the exposure of workers present at the site. Emergency medical response teams, district administration officials, police personnel, fire and rescue services, and public health authorities were promptly mobilised to manage the incident and ensure timely medical assistance to those affected.
They primarily presented with symptoms consistent with ammonia inhalation, including breathlessness, irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, coughing, chest discomfort, and varying degrees of respiratory distress. The exact cause of the incident is currently under investigation by the competent authorities, the bulletin said.
Elaborating on the public health response, the department said that emergency medical teams and ambulances were mobilised immediately and victims were shifted to nearby government and private hospitals for treatment. Monitoring and assessment of the affected area were undertaken to ensure public safety. Rapid medical assessment and treatment of all exposed persons were taken up.
In addition, the department immediately recommended continuous surveillance of exposed workers for delayed respiratory complications, environmental monitoring of the affected premises, and review of industrial safety systems and emergency response protocols. It also recommended conduct of occupational health and safety audits of similar facilities in the district.
Published – June 22, 2026 09:40 am IST
