Victims of an incident at a seafood processing unit in Manjangaranai, near Periyapalayam, Tamil Nadu, are being transported by ambulance to nearby hospitals today, June 21, 2026. Videograb: Special Arrangement
Seven women died during treatment on Sunday (June 21, 2026) after being affected in a major ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing unit in Manjangaranai near Periyapalayam, police said.
A total of 67 affected workers were rushed to local medical centres immediately after the incident, Tiruvallur District Collector (DC) S. Kavitha said.
According to her, 46 are being treated at Vels Hospital, and 21 are at Venkateshwara Hospital. Nine of the most critically ill patients have since been mobilised via ambulances to the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai.
Also Read: Follow the latest updates on the Tiruvallur ammonia gas leak updates on June 21, 2026
Meanwhile, dismissing initial rumours of multiple fatalities, a senior treating doctor from a private hospital confirmed to reporters that while several patients remain critical, no deaths had occurred at their facility.
People inspecting the private seafood processing unit in Manjangaranai, near Periyapalayam, Tamil Nadu, after a major ammonia gas leak happened on June 21, 2026. Photo: NDRF
“We admitted 44 patients in total, comprising 43 young women and one man. Out of these, we have intubated 15 to 16 patients, and 11 are currently on ventilator support,” the doctor told reporters. The 44 persons affected and all are migrant workers from north India.
The doctor noted that the affected workers are quite young, mostly women aged between 24 and 25 years.
“They are alive, and we can monitor their pulse and blood pressure, though their blood pressure is currently tracking quite low. Because they are young, we are optimistic they will recover. We are also arranging to shift four to five of the more critical patients to a government facility for advanced care,” the doctor added.
Chief Minister Vijay has given instructions to form an enquiry committee to probe the incident. A three-member committee comprising the Director of Industrial Safety and Health, Member Secretary, Pollution Control Board and the Additional Director of Public Health has been formed to submit an interim report within 24 hours and a final report in 3 days.
The CM had instructed the IT Minister/Tiruvallur Monitoring Minister to rush to Tiruvallur along with the Monitoring Officer, Dr. K.P. Karthikeyan, IAS, to give the best possible care to the affected in coordination with District Collector and district administration.
DC Kavitha visited the factory site and met with patients at the hospitals to oversee relief measures. A formal investigation has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the valve failure and to probe potential safety lapses at the export unit.
Tamil Nadu Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna and Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Rajmohan will be going to Stanley Medical College Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital to oversee efforts with the Deans.
Published – June 21, 2026 04:21 pm IST
