According to the Express News Service, workers who came under exposure of mysterious gas leak at Foxconn factory in Sriperumbudur were admitted to Ramachandra Medical College Hospital, Porur, on Saturday morning (24th July) with complaints of giddiness, nausea and breathlessness. Later, all but 15 of them, were discharged after treatment. Of the remaining 15, five remained in the Emergency ward, and 10 were admitted to the ICU for close observation, the news said.

Workers alleged that few of the victims had vomited blood after being gassed at the factory. While the hospital authorities accepted the allegations of blood vomiting they also said such cases were restricted to few members who had earlier health complications. “No one is critical, and we might keep the 15 patients for a day or two depending upon the progress of their health, said hospital PRO Nallamuthu.  

However workers claim that only first aid treatment was administered to them as the cause of ill health was unknown. The workers also alleged that the company was unwilling to arrange for an ambulance in time, and it was only after the intervention of the police, the 108 ambulance service was rushed in to reach the collapsed workers to the hospitals. “Had we known the exact cause of the ill health of the workers treatment and remedy could have happened much earlier”, said the hospital spokesperson.

About 500 workers from the factory with the support of unions in neighbouring industrial units went on a sit-in protest in front of the Foxconn factory. However, the protest was called off later on Saturday evening as authorities and management promised action.

A popular talk doing the rounds in the vicinity of the company was that the workers fainted because the recent pay revision was not up to their collective satisfaction. Informed sources also pointed out that the DMK-controlled Workers Progressive Union was trying to iron out maximum gain out of the current turmoil, and negotiations were on throughout the day between the company representatives and union leaders. Meanwhile, there was no operation in the company which assembles handsets for Nokia on Saturday.

Source: http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/500-foxconn-workers-stage-protest/192608.html