Ammonia gas removal operation at Tiruvallur factory to continue today

The process of pumping out ammonia gas from St. Peter and Paul Pvt. Ltd., a seafood processing unit at Kannigaipair in Tiruvallur district, will continue on Monday.

The unit witnessed a leak of the toxic gas on June 21, which left 18 workers dead and many hospitalised.

Collector S. Kavitha said that the operation would continue until the gas is completely removed.

The same safety protocols will be in place and medical teams, along with ambulances and the police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel, will be on standby.

Work to remove ammonia was carried out by a team of industry experts from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The process of removing the gas in a liquefied state was carried out by a team of experts including personnel from industries that use ammonia.

According to safety protocols, such evacuations are best carried out during the daytime, as ammonia spreads faster at night when the temperatures are lower. Additionally, the teams would be more alert during the day.