India, June 22 -- The death toll in the ammonia gas leak incident at a seafood processing unit in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district has risen to 5, with 3 more women workers succumbing on Monday after 2 fatalities were reported a day earlier.

Labour Welfare Minister J Mohamed Farvas informed the Assembly that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has ordered a joint investigation by officials from the Health Department and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. The team has been directed to submit a preliminary report within 24 hours and a detailed report within three days.

The accident occurred on June 21 at a private seafood processing and export facility near Periyapalayam when ammonia leaked from a pipeline during routine operations. A tota...