Seven women workers lost their lives and more than 67 others were hospitalised after an ammonia gas leak at a private seafood export facility near Periyapalayam in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district on Sunday.

According to officials, the incident occurred at St Peter’s Paul Seafoods Exports Private Limited, a company engaged in shrimp processing and exports.Nearly 120 migrant workers were staying within the factory premises, and most of them were women from Assam, Odisha and Jharkhand.As Sunday was a weekly holiday, many workers were present in the residential section of the facility when the leak occurred.Authorities stated that the ammonia leak originated in the processing unit and rapidly spread across the premises, affecting workers living on-site.Several workers suffered severe health complications and were rushed to hospitals.Nine of the most critically affected workers were transferred to Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai for advanced treatment.The police have registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the leak.Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.

Stalin directed the formation of a three-member inquiry committee comprising senior officials from industrial safety, pollution control and public health departments.The committee has been instructed to submit an interim report within 24 hours and a final report within three days.The state government announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each deceased worker.Tamil Nadu Governor R.N.

Ravi's office and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery for those injured.The incident has raised concerns about industrial safety standards and the living conditions of migrant workers housed within factory premises.