Three workers die at Tata Electronics factory in Tamil Nadu

Three contract workers died at a Tata Electronics factory in Tamil Nadu, southern India, after inhaling toxic gas during maintenance work on an effluent treatment plant.

What happened

The workers were cleaning storage tanks in a wastewater treatment facility when one worker fainted while inspecting the inside of a tank. Two other workers entered successively to check and also fainted. All three were taken to a nearby hospital and declared dead.

Location and facility

Xinhua reported the factory is in Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu. The Times of India reported the facility is in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. SAMAA TV, citing Reuters, reported the facility is located in Hosur in Tamil Nadu and makes parts for Apple iPhones. SAMAA TV also reported that Tata accounts for roughly 40% of iPhone assembly in India and Foxconn makes up the rest.

Cause and investigation

Police said the factory had used chemical powder to suppress the odor of sewage, a substance that may have caused the generation of toxic gas inside the storage tank. District official C. Dinesh Kumar stated that appropriate safety measures were lacking during the operation. Police are investigating whether there were inadequate safety protection measures during the cleaning operation, and the specific cause of death remains to be confirmed by the autopsy report.

Tamil Nadu authorities are probing the incident. Tata and Apple will also investigate the deaths, according to sources cited by SAMAA TV. Tata Electronics and Nalco Water, an Ecolab company that operated the effluent treatment plant, did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Official response

Tamil Nadu's Minister of Industry, Kirthana, posted on social media: "The safety and dignity of every worker must always be placed first. A thorough investigation into this tragic incident will be conducted, and appropriate action will be taken based on the investigation results."

The Times of India quoted state minister Virudhai Magal Keerthana: "Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of three precious lives in the incident at Tata Electronics' facility in Hosur...I have spoken to the district administration and directed them to extend all necessary support to the affected families and ensure that the situation is addressed with utmost urgency."

Why it matters

The deaths are the latest incident to affect Apple's iPhone supply chain in India. Tata's Hosur site has faced repeated setbacks, including a fire that halted production at the components plant in 2024, and state authorities warning of a shutdown over alleged groundwater contamination this year before dropping the matter.

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Sources

• xinhuanet.com (in Chinese): Indian Tata Electronics factory accident kills 3; local official: thorough investigation
• timesofindia.indiatimes.com: Three workers killed during water tank maintenance at Tata iPhone parts factory in Tamil Nadu | India News - The Times of India
• samaa.tv: Three workers die at Tata iPhone parts factory in India | SAMAA TV

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.