Bhubaneswar, June 23 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday enhanced the ex-gratia assistance for the families of women workers who lost their lives in the ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing and export facility in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district on June 21, raising it from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

Expressing deep grief over the death of Odia workers, CM Majhi had earlier announced ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) to the next of kin of every deceased worker. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the compensation amount has now been enhanced to Rs 10 lakh by CM Majhi.

Speaking to media persons, Chief Secretary Anu Garg informed that efforts are underway to bring back the bodies of deceased workers to Odisha at the earliest after the completion of all the formalities.

She further said that the state government is considering deputing another official to join the three-member team sent to Chennai earlier.

Notably, acting on the directions of CM Majhi, three senior officers of the Odisha government visited Tiruvallur and are currently coordinating with the Tamil Nadu authorities to ensure medical care for the injured workers and oversee other necessary arrangements.

On Saturday, Odisha Chief Secretary Garg had also held discussions with her counterpart in Tamil Nadu to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured Odia workers and the provision of all necessary support and assistance.

Meanwhile, in another tragic development, Tamil Nadu government officials reportedly informed on Tuesday that the death toll of Odia workers in the gas leak incident has risen to seven.

The overall death toll in the ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing and export unit near Periyapalayam in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district on June 21 has risen to nine, including seven workers from Odisha and two from Assam.

According to the Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department, a total of 80 people were affected by the gas leak. While two workers have recovered and been discharged, 69 others remain under treatment and medical observation at hospitals in Chennai and Tiruvallur.

–IANS

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