For much of Sunday, govt hospitals in Chennai were dealing with the fallout of the ammonia leak near Periyapalayam, as workers suffering from exposure were brought in for treatment and their families scrambled for information.The leak claimed two lives and both were reported at a private hospital in Tiruvallur district. As news of the incident spread, unverified messages on social media fuelled confusion over the number of casualties. Hospital authorities repeatedly appealed to the public not to circulate rumours and said all patients were being monitored and treated.What stood out in the wards was the absence of family members at the bedside. Several of the affected workers, believed to be migrants, lay unconscious or struggling to breathe, with no attendants to identify them or receive updates from doctors.At Stanley hospital, access to the ground-floor treatment area was tightly controlled. Security personnel were posted at entry points, while police officers patrolled the corridor leading to the ward. Patients and attendants carrying prescriptions and medical records waited outside, unsure if they would be allowed through.By Sunday afternoon, seven women exposed to the gas were under intensive treatment at Stanley. Doctors said prolonged inhalation of ammonia had triggered serious respiratory complications, including breathing difficulties, facial swelling, and damage to the lungs.“All admitted patients are receiving respiratory support and remain under close observation. Dedicated medical teams have been assigned to provide specialised care,” said Dr A Aravind, the hospital dean.A convoy of govt vehicles arrived at the casualty block in the evening as ministers Aadhav Arjuna, Marie Wilson, K G Arunraj and Rajmohan met doctors and reviewed treatment arrangements.Speaking to reporters, Rajmohan said doctors had managed to revive one patient’s heartbeat through CPR. “They are making every effort to improve the chances of survival,” he said. Many of the workers remain unconscious, making identification difficult.Outside the casualty block, CPI leaders Dr A R Shanti and Dr G R Ravindranath criticised what they described as inadequate enforcement of workplace safety norms. Shanti, a former ESI Hospital doctor, said industrial units handling hazardous substances must be subjected to stricter oversight.The atmosphere at RGGGH was comparatively calmer. Small groups of relatives and well-wishers waited outside the emergency ward for updates on the condition of the workers.
