Forty-one migrant workers from Jharkhand, who were evacuated from St. Paul and Peter Seafood Export Firm at Periyapalayam in Tiruvallur district after the ammonia leak that claimed 16 lives, remain stranded in Tamil Nadu without any assistance to return to their home State.
Officials in Tiruvallur district said there had been no response from the Jharkhand government despite repeated requests to facilitate the workers’ return.
On June 21, migrant workers from Assam, Jharkhand, and Odisha employed at the seafood processing unit were evacuated after the ammonia leak. More than 80 workers exposed to the toxic gas were admitted to hospitals. Sixteen workers — 13 from Odisha, two from Jharkhand, and one from Assam — died in the incident.
The surviving workers were accommodated at a marriage hall in Periyapalayam, where the Tamil Nadu government has been providing food, shelter, and medical assistance.
The surviving workers were accommodated at a marriage hall in Periyapalayam, where the Tamil Nadu government has been providing food, shelter, and medical assistance.
Officials from the Odisha and Assam governments visited the affected workers and coordinated with the Tiruvallur administration to arrange their transportation back home by train. However, the 41 workers from Jharkhand continue to remain at the shelter in Periyapalayam, with no clarity on when they will be able to return.
One of the stranded workers appealed to the Jharkhand government to intervene immediately. “Everyone wants to return home, but we are not being allowed to leave. The Jharkhand government should take note of our situation and provide us with immediate relief,” he said.
Another video message from one of the workers said: “After the ammonia leak, we were shifted to this shelter. We have been here for several days. We are being provided food, but we are not allowed to go outside or leave. No one has informed us whether we will be sent home or what will happen next. Our identity documents are checked repeatedly, and we are under severe mental stress.”
A revenue official in Tiruvallur said representatives of the Odisha and Assam governments had personally visited the affected workers from their respective States and coordinated their return. “We extended all necessary assistance to facilitate their journey. However, 41 workers from Jharkhand are yet to be repatriated. We have sent emails and made phone calls to the Jharkhand authorities, but there has been no response so far. Until then, we will be providing them with shelter, food, and medical assistance while continuing efforts to arrange their return,” the official added.