Bhubaneswar: In a moving display of state solidarity and respect, Odisha Labour Commissioner Shri Indramani Tripathy was present at the Biju Patnaik International Airport on June 26 to pay his last respects as the flights landed bringing in three individuals who succumbed to their injuries while undergoing medical treatment and whose remains reached Bhubaneswar today.
They have been identified as Sumitra Juang, Deepanjali Juang, and Rita Juang. Shri Tripathy has been personally coordinating and monitoring the entire cross-border operation to minimize any delays for the grieving families. Shrimati Madhumita Nayak, Special Secretary Labour & ESI and Additional Labour Commissioner Shri Madan Mohan Paik and other top cops were present.
In the wake of a devastating industrial accident that has cast a long shadow of grief over the state, the Odisha Government has launched a comprehensive administrative and humanitarian operation to support the victims of the tragic ammonia gas leak in Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu.
The incident, which occurred on June 21, 2026, has claimed the lives of several migrant workers from Odisha, prompting immediate and deeply empathetic intervention from the highest levels of the state administration.
The mortal remains of eleven deceased workers have been systematically repatriated to their home district of Keonjhar in phases. Operating under the direct supervision of officials from the Labour and ESI Department, and by the explicit order of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the state has utilized a combination of flights and special Mahaprayan hearses to ensure the victims are returned to their families with the utmost dignity.
The solemn repatriation process began with five bodies being sent on June 23, followed by two on June 24, one on June 25, and the final three on June 26.
On the administrative front, the state government has extended its reach directly to the site of the disaster. A senior team of officials from the Labour and ESI Department has been actively deployed to Thiruvallur and Chennai to oversee the medical care and psychological well-being of the surviving Odia workers.
Furthermore, following strict instructions from the Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi to ensure the absolute safety of the remaining workforce, a total of 62 Odia workers are currently being brought back from Thiruvallur.
This group comprises 59 workers from the company who survived the incident unscathed, alongside three workers who have been officially discharged from the hospital after making a recovery.
At the urgent request of the state government, the General Manager, Southern Railway Chennai has arranged a dedicated, special train coach to facilitate their safe journey back home. These workers are scheduled to arrive in Keonjhar on June 28, 2026, where local authorities are prepared to receive them.
Recognizing the irreparable loss suffered by the tribal households and families in Keonjhar, Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi has announced an ex-gratia financial assistance of 10 lakh rupees for the next of kin of each Odia migrant worker who lost their life in this industrial tragedy.
Local district administrations have been directed to ensure that both the financial aid and rehabilitation support reach the affected families without bureaucratic delay, as the state mourns the loss of its sons and daughters.