Cuddalore: The Tamil Nadu government has constituted a high-level committee to probe the recent gas leak incident at a chemical manufacturing unit in the SIPCOT Industrial Complex in Cuddalore. Over 40 people were hospitalised on Friday after inhaling toxic fumes suspected to have leaked from a steam valve inside the facility.

State Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister M R K Panneerselvam, who visited the affected patients at the Government General Hospital, said the committee would conduct a detailed study to identify the cause of the incident. The probe will involve officials from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), and other concerned departments from Chennai.

According to police, nearly 43 individuals complained of eye irritation, suffocation, and breathing difficulties, leading to their admission in hospital. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, and the fumes were later brought under control.

District Superintendent of Police S Jeyakumar, along with senior officials from the Revenue Department and TNPCB, inspected the factory premises following the leak. Preventive measures have also been directed to the factory management to avoid recurrence of such incidents.