On Sunday, June 21, 2026, a quiet day off turned into a tragedy at the St Peter's Paul Seafoods Exports facility in southern India. Around 120 migrant workers, mostly young women from northern states, were resting in their housing on the factory grounds. Suddenly, a dangerous ammonia gas leak began inside the shrimp processing section. A broken measuring valve released the colorless, pungent gas, which quickly spread.
Workers who breathed the gas had immediate trouble breathing, felt sick, and dizzy. Some even started bleeding from their nose and mouth. The factory, which uses ammonia for refrigeration, had become a dangerous place. Emergency services were called, and about 67 workers were taken to nearby hospitals. Vels Hospital treated 46 people, and Venkateshwara Hospital received 21. Nine workers in critical condition were moved to Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai.
Doctors worked hard to help the survivors. A doctor at one hospital said, "They are alive, and we can monitor their pulse and blood pressure, though their blood pressure is currently tracking quite low. Because they are young, we are optimistic they will recover." Sadly, initial reports suggest seven women died from the gas, though later official statements mentioned two deaths. The Governor of Tamil Nadu, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, expressed his sadness and sent condolences to the families.
Special rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force arrived to secure the area. Police have filed a criminal complaint and are questioning the factory owner. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has created a committee to investigate the cause of the leak and any safety failures. The investigation aims to find out why the valve failed and if safety rules were broken. District Collector S Kavitha visited the factory and the hospitalized workers.