Ammonia leak: Tamil Nadu Hazardous Industries Control Committee

Workers in critical condition were admitted to RGGGH in Chennai on Sunday | Photo credit: R. Ragu

Tamil Nadu Labor Minister J. Mohamed Farvas said on Monday (June 22, 2026) that the government would immediately set up a committee to check hazardous industries across the state and prevent accidents.

In a suo motu statement in the Legislature on the deaths of five women workers following the ammonia gas leak tragedy in St. Peter and Paul Sea Food Exports Private Ltd. at Kannigaipair near Periyapalayam in Tiruvallur district said Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has already issued orders to form the committee.

“We are taking steps to form a committee immediately,” he said.

The minister said the government would receive reports from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health, the Public Health Department and the Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board within 24 hours.

“The chief minister has directed us to complete a detailed investigation within three days,” he said.

The Chief Minister announced ₹2 lakh to the families of the five women who lost their lives in the accident. The government will also bear the cost of transporting the bodies to their native states and ensure immediate release of Pension Fund (PF) and Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) benefits to the families, he added.

Published – 22 Jun 2026 12:45 PM IST