Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has registered a case in connection with the recent ammonia gas leak mishap in Tamil Nadu which claimed the lives of 12 migrant workers from Odisha.
The case was registered following a complaint filed by Koraput-based lawyer Anup Kumar Patra. Taking cognisance of the complaint, the NHRC has directed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) of Tamil Nadu to submit a detailed report on the incident, along with the findings of the joint committee probing the tragedy.
The petitioner highlighted the death of Rita Juang from Telkoi area of Kendujhar along with other Odia workers in the gas leak tragedy and demanded that the Tamil Nadu government and the factory management be ordered to pay Rs 25 lakh as compensation to the family of each deceased worker. It has also sought full coverage of medical expenses for the injured persons.
This apart, the petitioner has requested the Commission to instruct the authorities to provide proper rehabilitation, support, and facilities to the affected families, particularly those from Kendujhar district.
The petitioner also criticized the unsafe working conditions and alleged employment of minors at the seafood processing unit. It has urged the Commission to direct legal action against the management of the Sea Food unit. He has also sought a comprehensive safety audit of all 6,669 hazardous industries operating in Tamil Nadu to prevent recurrence of such tragedies.
The tragic incident has caused widespread grief and anger in several villages of Kendujhar district after the bodies of the deceased workers were brought back home.
Box: Another from Odisha succumbs
The death toll of workers from Odisha in the ammonia gas leak mishap at a seafood processing factory in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district has risen to 12 after a woman from Anugola district died during treatment on Friday. The deceased has been identified as Budhubari Naik of Anugola district. She had been on ventilator support since the accident after being exposed to toxic ammonia gas at the seafood processing unit. Following her death, the toll in the gas leak incident has gone up to 14.
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