Tamil Nadu Ammonia Gas Leak Tragedy: Seven Dead, Dozens Hospitalised After Leak at Seafood Processing Unit

A tragic industrial accident in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district claimed seven lives and left dozens of workers hospitalised after ammonia gas leaked from a seafood processing factory near Periyapalayam on Sunday.

The incident occurred at a seafood export and processing unit in Manjangaranai village, triggering panic among workers and prompting a large-scale emergency response from district authorities and disaster management teams.

Seven Dead, 67 Workers Affected

According to officials, a total of 67 workers were affected after ammonia gas spread through the factory premises. Many workers reportedly experienced breathing difficulties and other health complications following exposure to the toxic gas.

The affected workers were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities confirmed that seven people lost their lives in the incident, making it one of the most serious industrial accidents reported in the region in recent years.

The Tiruvallur District Collector's Office informed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) about the emergency, following which a specialised rescue operation was launched.

#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Seven people affected by the ammonia gas leak were brought to Stanley Medical College.

An ammonia gas leak was reported today at the St. Peters Paul Seafoods Exports facility in Kannigappair, near Periyapalayam in Tiruvallur district. https://t.co/7Y0Y9zr8AW pic.twitter.com/xEtJXiW7Q5

— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2026

NDRF Deploys Special Rescue Team

After receiving the request from the district administration, the headquarters of the 4th Battalion of the NDRF in Arakkonam dispatched a team trained in Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) rescue operations.

A team of 30 personnel from Chennai arrived at the site equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE), gas detection instruments and specialised rescue gear.

The team worked alongside local authorities to assess the situation, ensure safety at the factory premises and assist in emergency response efforts.

Collector Provides Health Update

Tiruvallur District Collector S. Kavitha said all affected workers were shifted to medical facilities for treatment.

According to the Collector, 46 patients are being treated at Wells Hospital, while 21 others have been admitted to Venkateswara Hospital.

The nine most critically ill patients were transferred to Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai for advanced treatment.

Kavitha visited both the factory and hospitals to review the rescue and relief operations. She also announced that a formal investigation has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the leak and identify any possible safety violations.

Preliminary reports suggest that a valve failure may have triggered the ammonia leak, although officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause.

Doctors Hopeful Despite Critical Cases

Doctors treating the victims said many of the affected workers are young women in their mid-twenties. A senior doctor at one of the private hospitals said that 44 patients were admitted there, including 43 women and one man.

"Of these, we have intubated around 15 to 16 patients, and 11 are currently on ventilator support," the doctor said.

The doctor added that while several patients remain critical and their blood pressure is low, medical teams are optimistic about their recovery because of their young age.
Hospital authorities are also making arrangements to shift some of the most critical patients to government medical facilities for specialised treatment.

Tamil Nadu Governor Expresses Grief

Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
In a statement, the Governor said he was deeply saddened by the ammonia gas leak incident at the shrimp processing factory near Periyapalayam.

He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for strength and courage for them during this difficult time. He also wished a speedy recovery for those undergoing treatment in hospitals.

Investigation Underway

Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the incident to determine how the ammonia leak occurred and whether safety protocols were followed at the facility.
The findings of the probe are expected to shed light on whether negligence or technical failures contributed to the accident.

As rescue and medical teams continue their efforts, the tragedy has once again raised concerns about industrial safety standards and worker protection measures at factories handling hazardous substances.