The death toll due to ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing and export facility in Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu has now increased to 16. At the same time, about 25 are still undergoing treatment in the hospital. Among the dead are 15 women, who hail from states like Assam, Jharkhand and Odisha and had come to Tiruvallur in Tamil Nadu for employment.
According to an official statement from the state Health and Family Welfare Department, on June 21, ammonia gas leaked during routine work at Peter & Paul Seafood Exports Private Limited, an export facility located in Kanigaipar/Manjanagarnai area near Periyapalayam. 83 people were affected by this. All of them were admitted to the hospital due to problems like difficulty in breathing, severe difficulty in breathing, cough and chest discomfort. Peter & Paul Seafood Exports Private Limited is engaged in sourcing, processing, packaging and exporting seafood.
Headlines
- Ammonia is not a banned chemical. Therefore its availability is easy.
- Approval of Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization is necessary for the use of ammonia.
- Not following maintenance and safety standards is the main reason for ammonia leakage.
From UP to Gujarat..39 deaths in 10 years
Ammonia has become a silent killer of death in India. So far, about 39 people have lost their lives in ammonia gas leakage accidents that have occurred in different states in the last 10 years. According to the incidents revealed in media reports, in the year 2016, 2 people died in Surat Industrial Area in Gujarat, in 2017, 2 people died in Saharanpur Paper Mill in UP, in 2018, 1 person died in an industrial unit in Chennai. In the year 2019, 4 people died in Bharuch chemical belt of Gujarat. Apart from this, in 2020, 4 people lost their lives in a cold storage accident in Hapur, UP.
In 2021, 2 people lost their lives in a food processing plant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. In 2022, 2 died in Shamli cold storage in UP, in 2023, 3 died in Ankleshwar industrial area in Gujarat. Then 2 died in cold storage in Bareilly, UP. 2025 One person lost his life due to ammonia gas leak in a food processing unit in Andhra Pradesh. Now 16 people have died due to ammonia gas leak in Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu.
Why and where is ammonia used?
India is counted as a major fertilizer producing country in the world. Ammonia is used as raw material to make it. The nitrogen present in ammonia is essential for soil fertility. Apart from this, ammonia is also used in cold storage, ice factories, dairy plants and food processing units. Its heat absorbing capacity is very excellent.
In India, about 70-80% of ammonia is used to make fertilizer. Then used in cold storage and refrigeration, so that potatoes, fruits, vegetables, meat and sea products can be stored safely for long periods of time. It is also used for better cooling in seafood processing plants, dairy industries and large food processing plants.
In chemical industries, ammonia is used in the manufacturing of nitric acid, plastics, synthetic fibers, explosives and many industrial chemicals. It is also used in the manufacturing of some chemicals in the pharmaceutical industry and in textile industry processing. Some thermal power plants use ammonia in pollution control techniques.
License required for purchase of ammonia
Ammonia is not a banned or illegal chemical. This is why it is easily available. It is counted among the most used chemicals in the world. Its purchase and sale is done as industrial gas under license and safety rules. No common man can normally buy it.
What approvals are required for the purchase of ammonia?
PESO (Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organization) was the first to use ammonia.
Security related licenses and clearances have to be obtained from. Then permission has to be taken from PESO itself for large storage tanks and pressure vessels under SMPV rules (Static and Mobile Pressure Vessel Rules). After this, approval also has to be taken from the state factory department, pollution control board, fire department and local administration.
Why do leakage incidents occur?
Old or damaged pipes and valves, non-maintenance of tanks and storage systems, negligence in safety audit, lack of trained staff, non-functioning of gas detection and alarm systems, violation of safety rules are many such reasons due to which incidents of ammonia leakage from industries occur and people lose their lives. In such a situation, to ensure that the incidents of ammonia leakage are negligible, it is most important to follow safe storage, transportation and safety standards.
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