Chennai, July 4 -- The toll in the June 21 gas leak tragedy at a private seafood processing and export unit in neighbouring Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu rose to 18, even as the district administration commenced the process of extracting the ammonia gas stocked inthe ill-fated premises by putting in place all safety protocols, on Saturday.
Health department authorities said one more woman affected by inhaling the toxic gas, who was undergoing treatment at the hospital, succumbed last evening, taking the number of fatalities to 18.
All the deceased were women and a majority of them were from Odisha. Two workers from Assam and one from Jharkhand were among those dead.
In a medical bulletin, health department said 83 workers were affect...