Chennai, June 23 (IANS) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday took suo motu cognisance of the deadly ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing unit in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district and issued notices to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar and Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, seeking a detailed report on the incident within two weeks.

Acting on media reports about the industrial accident, the commission said that the tragedy, which has so far claimed nine lives, raises serious concerns relating to human rights and workplace safety.

The NHRC has asked the state government to provide a comprehensive account of the incident, including the circumstances leading to the leak, the action taken by authorities and the present condition of the affected industrial workers.

The commission has also sought details regarding the compensation and relief announced by the Tamil Nadu government for the families of the deceased industrial workers.

It directed the authorities to furnish information on the disbursement of the relief amount as well as the medical treatment being provided to those who were exposed to the toxic gas.

According to reports, the leak occurred at a private seafood processing and export facility in the Tiruvallur district, where a large number of workers, predominantly women, were employed.

The workers were reportedly resting in a room near the factory premises when ammonia gas leaked from the unit, exposing them to toxic fumes.

The incident triggered a major emergency response, with affected workers rushed to hospitals across Chennai and Tiruvallur.

More than 70 workers were admitted for treatment and medical observation following complaints of breathing difficulties and other symptoms associated with ammonia inhalation.

The victims are reported to be migrant workers employed at the seafood processing facility.

The tragedy has intensified concerns over industrial safety practices and the handling of hazardous chemicals in workplaces.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has ordered a formal inquiry into the accident and constituted a three-member committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the ammonia gas leak.

The panel has been tasked with identifying possible lapses, fixing responsibility and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The NHRC said it would examine the report submitted by the state authorities before deciding on any further action.

The commission’s intervention comes amid growing demands for stricter enforcement of workplace safety norms and greater protection for industrial workers handling hazardous substances.

–IANS

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