Chennai: Two more workers died due to complications on Friday, taking the death toll in the ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing unit in Tiruvallur district to 15. The number of critically ill patients has dropped sharply, leaving only two on ventilator support across hospitals.Budhubari Naik from Odisha, who was undergoing treatment at Rajiv Gandhi Govt General Hospital (RGGGH), and Priti Devi from Jharkhand died on Friday. Hospital-wise data showed that of the 15 deaths reported so far, six occurred at RGGGH, five at Stanley Medical College Hospital, three at Vels Hospital and one at Venkateswara Hospital.The mortal remains of 11 victims have been airlifted to Odisha, and two to Assam. Bodies of the remaining two victims will be transported to their native places after completion of legal formalities.Of the total 83 affected workers, 40 remain under medical observation, including 38 women and two men. Their condition has improved significantly over the past 24 hours, with only two patients now on ventilator support, nine receiving oxygen through nasal support, and the remaining 29 reported to be stable, a health bulletin noted. Among those still undergoing treatment, 24 workers are from Odisha, six from Assam, two each from Jharkhand and Kerala, and six from Tamil Nadu. A total of 28 workers have been discharged after treatment so far.Tiruvallur district collector S Kavitha said, “We have directed the factory management to remove the seafood from the premises. The ammonia stored there will also be removed. This process will take at least two to three days. The factory will be sealed after that.”
