Most of the affected workers were migrant labourers from Assam, Odisha and Jharkhand who were staying in accommodation within the factory premises. Many were inside their quarters when the toxic gas reportedly spread from the processing unit, causing severe breathing difficulties and other health complications.
BY PC Bureau
CHENNAI, June 21, 2026: At least seven women workers were killed and more than 60 others hospitalised after a major ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing and export facility in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, triggering a large-scale emergency response and a government-ordered investigation.
The incident occurred at St. Peter’s Paul Seafoods Exports Private Limited, located at Kannigaipair near Periyapalayam. According to officials, around 120 migrant workers, most of them women from Assam, Odisha and Jharkhand, were staying in accommodation provided within the factory premises. As it was a holiday, many workers were inside their quarters when the gas leak reportedly spread from the processing unit.
Workers exposed to the toxic fumes complained of severe breathing difficulties, suffocation and bleeding from the nose and mouth. They were rushed to nearby hospitals, where seven women succumbed while undergoing treatment. Several others remain under medical care, with nine critically ill workers shifted to Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai for specialised treatment and ventilator support.
Seven women died while several have been hospopitalised after a major ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing unit in Manjangaranai near Periyapalayam, Thiruvallur District Collector S Kavitha said on Sunday, June 21.
According to her, 46 are being treated at Vels… pic.twitter.com/MwlSrqiiBM
— The Siasat Daily (@TheSiasatDaily) June 21, 2026
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Authorities said nearly 67 workers were initially admitted to hospitals following the leak, while more than 60 continued to receive treatment at the time of reporting.
Police, Fire and Rescue Services personnel, revenue officials and health department teams were deployed to the site immediately after the incident. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also sent a specialised Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) team from Arakkonam to assess the situation, monitor gas levels and secure the affected area.
Periyapalayam police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the cause of the leak. Officials are examining whether there were lapses in safety protocols or maintenance procedures at the facility.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and ordered the formation of a three-member high-level inquiry committee. The panel, comprising senior officials from the Industrial Safety and Health Department, Pollution Control Board and Public Health Department, has been directed to submit an interim report within 24 hours and a final report within three days.
The Chief Minister also instructed ministers and senior officials to visit the site, coordinate relief measures and ensure the best possible medical care for those affected.
Ammonia is widely used as a refrigerant in seafood processing plants to preserve fish and shrimp products. However, exposure to the gas can be highly dangerous, causing respiratory distress, chemical burns and, in severe cases, death. The tragedy has renewed concerns about industrial safety standards in Tamil Nadu’s seafood processing sector, particularly in facilities employing large numbers of migrant workers.
The incident has also reignited calls for stricter enforcement of workplace safety regulations, regular inspections of refrigeration systems and stronger safeguards for workers living within industrial premises. Investigations are ongoing, and further details are expected once the inquiry committee submits its findings.
