New Delhi: Five people have died so far after being affected in a major ammonia gas leak on Sunday (June 21) at a private seafood processing unit near Periyapalayam in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, The Hindu reported, citing police officials.While earlier news reports suggested that at least seven people died, it was later reported by The Hindu that while two people had died on Sunday, three additional fatalities were reported on Monday (June 22).A total of 67 workers were rushed from the unit to local medical centres, according to Thiruvallur District Collector S. Kavitha, of whom 46 are being treated at Vels Hospital and 21 at Venkateshwara Hospital. She also said that nine of the most critically ill patients have since been shifted to the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai.The leak occurred at the manufacturing unit of a private company named Peter & Paul Seafood Export Company, located near Periyapalayam. Nearly 120 migrant workers, mostly women labourers from Assam, Odisha and Jharkhand, were on the factory premises at the time. The company had provided accommodation for the workers within the campus.According to The Indian Express, Sunday was their weekly holiday. However, the ammonia leak, which originated from the seafood processing unit, quickly reached the residential area inside the campus affecting the workers. Many of them complained of breathing difficulties, while some suffered bleeding from the mouth and nose.Medical personnel shift victims to an ambulance following an ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing unit in Tamil Nadu. Photo: PTIAs per reports, personnel from the Periyapalayam police station, fire and rescue services, the revenue department, the health department rushed to the spot and carried out rescue operations. An NDRF team was also deployed to inspect the site.Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay has directed the formation of an enquiry committee to probe the incident. A three-member committee comprising the Director of Industrial Safety and Health, Member Secretary, Pollution Control Board and the Additional Director of Public Health has also been formed to submit an interim report within 24 hours and a final report in three days.The chief minister has further announced Rs 2 lakh each to be paid to the families of the deceased persons from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.This story was updated on June 22 with the latest figure of five fatalities.