Bhubaneswar: A pall of grief descended over several villages in Odisha’s Kendujhar district on Wednesday as the last rites of five victims of the devastating gas leak incident in Tamil Nadu were performed amid heart-wrenching scenes.
With another girl from Kendujhar district succumbing to injuries, the State’s death toll in the tragedy rose to eight, leaving families shattered and prompting renewed calls for stronger safety measures for migrant workers employed outside Odisha. The deceased was identified as Subasi Juang (18), daughter of Balisahi, from Kuntla in Kendujhar district.
According to a media bulletin issued by Tamil Nadu’s Health and Family Welfare Department, Subasi succumbed to injuries at 10 am while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Tamil Nadu. The other deceased include Gumani Juang (15), Phulomani Juang, Shibani Juang, Geeta Juang, Champabati Juang, Purnima Juang, and Parbati Juang. The other two victims are from Assam.
Meanwhile, the last rites of five of the deceased workers from Kendujhar were conducted on Wednesday in their native villages. Their mortal remains were flown to the State on Tuesday. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had paid floral tributes to the deceased at Bhubaneswar Airport before the bodies were sent to their respective native villages.
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday at a private seafood processing and export unit in Kannigaipair village near Periyapalayam in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. A suspected ammonia gas leak exposed workers to toxic fumes, resulting in severe health complications.
The Odisha government has been closely monitoring the situation and has deputed a three-member team to Tamil Nadu to coordinate relief efforts and extend assistance to affected workers from the State. The team is also working with local authorities to ensure support for the families of the victims and those undergoing treatment, officials said.