Among fatalities, five women from Odisha; working to take their bodies back: Minister

CHENNAI: Odisha’s Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia on Monday said that efforts were being made to bring back the mortal remains of the five women who died in the ammonia gas leak to their native place in Keonjhar district as soon as possible.

Odisha Labour Commissioner Indramani Tripathy told mediapersons: “Our officers are at the spot, and they have confirmed that five women from Odisha have died.”

Expressing grief over the deaths, Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh from the CM’s Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased worker.

“The Odisha government is in touch with the Tamil Nadu administration to ensure treatment and other assistance for the affected workers,” an official statement said. “Chief Secretary Anu Garg held discussions with her Tamil Nadu counterpart on Sunday. A team of Odisha government officials has also rushed to TN and is coordinating with local authorities on treatment, post-mortem formalities and other arrangements.”

MM Paik, a senior official, will remain in Chennai for coordination regarding post-mortem and other related procedures. Two other officers have proceeded to Tiruvallur.

The body of one deceased worker was shifted to Chennai on Sunday night for post-mortem, while the remaining bodies are in Tiruvallur, officials said. Some of the injured workers are stated to be in a critical condition.