Keonjhar/Chennai, June 24 (UDN): The death toll in the Tamil Nadu gas leak tragedy involving migrant workers from Odisha has risen to eight following the death of another critically injured woman worker from Keonjhar district on Wednesday.
The deceased has been identified as Subasini Juang, a resident of Balisahi under Sunapentha village in Keonjhar district. She had been undergoing treatment in a critical condition after being exposed to toxic ammonia gas in the industrial accident.
With her death, the number of victims from Keonjhar district alone has climbed to eight, underscoring the scale of the tragedy that has devastated several families in the region. Earlier, seven women workers from the district had died due to injuries sustained in the same incident.
Meanwhile, the bodies of five deceased workers were brought back to their native villages in Keonjhar on Wednesday and handed over to grieving family members by district administration officials. The mortal remains were taken to Kodipasa, Talachampei, Rangamatia, and Tangiri villages, where emotional scenes unfolded as relatives and residents gathered to pay their final respects.
“Four of the five women workers died in the tragic mishap. The condition of one is stable,” said a villager, as mourning engulfed the affected villages. Most of the bereaved families belong to economically weaker sections, prompting renewed demands for adequate compensation and long-term rehabilitation support.
The incident occurred on Sunday at a seafood processing unit in Periyapalayam, Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, when an ammonia gas leak triggered a major industrial accident. Several workers were exposed to the toxic gas, resulting in multiple deaths and leaving dozens hospitalized.
In response to the tragedy, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced enhanced ex-gratia assistance of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased workers.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the leak, while rescue and medical teams are monitoring the condition of those still under treatment.