Five Odisha Women Workers Among Dead in Ammonia Gas Leak at Tamil Nadu Seafood Factory

At least ten workers were killed and several others injured after a toxic ammonia gas leak at St. Peter’s Paul Seafoods Exports Pvt. Ltd. in Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday. Most of the victims are migrant workers from Odisha, while others belong to Assam and Jharkhand.

The deceased Odisha workers have now been identified, and all of them are women from Keonjhar district. According to available information, the victims are Champabati Juang of Tala Champei village and Phulamani Juang of Kodipasha village under Banspal block, as well as Shivani Juang and Gita Juang of Tangiri village under Patakuli panchayat in the Raisuan area of Telkoi block. Another victim has been identified as Gumani Juang of Rangamatia village in the Talapada area of Telkoi block.

Several workers from villages in Telkoi and Banspal blocks had been employed at the seafood processing unit. Sources said that from Rangamatia village alone, 18 people—10 men and 8 women—had travelled to Tamil Nadu to work at the shrimp processing factory. One of them lost her life in the incident, while four others are currently undergoing treatment.

The workers had reportedly joined the company around eight months ago. They were earning between ₹7,000 and ₹8,000 per month and were provided accommodation and food by the employer. Most of them sent ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 home every month to support their families.

Speaking to local authorities, the father of deceased worker Gumani Juang said his daughter was one of the primary earning members of the family. He expressed concern over the family’s financial condition, stating that they are struggling to arrange funds even for her last rites and funeral rituals.

Odisha Chief Minister has announced ex gratia assistance for the families of the deceased. The state government has also dispatched a three-member team to Tamil Nadu to monitor the treatment of the injured workers and coordinate relief efforts.

However, the Odisha Labour Department is yet to issue a detailed official statement regarding the total number of casualties, the status of the injured workers, and whether the workers had been legally recruited and employed at the factory.

The incident has raised serious concerns over the safety standards and working conditions of migrant labourers employed in industrial units outside the state. Investigations into the cause of the ammonia gas leak are currently underway.