Three workers die in toxic gas incident at Tamil Nadu factory
The contract workers suffocated while cleaning a wastewater treatment tank at a Tata Electronics facility in Hosur.
Three contract workers died after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning a wastewater treatment tank at a Tata Electronics factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, on Monday evening, according to Rediff.
The facility, which manufactures components for Apple iPhones, houses a utility site operated by Nalco Water, an Ecolab company. The deceased workers were engaged by a sub-contractor of Nalco Water.
The incident occurred during the desilting of an effluent treatment plant storage tank. One worker collapsed after peering into the tank, and two others died while attempting to rescue him, police said.
Krishnagiri district collector C Dinesh Kumar confirmed that asphyxiation during sludge removal was the cause of death. He announced a comprehensive inquiry into breaches of safety regulations at the plant.
Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Virudhai Magal Keerthana said the incident would be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action would be taken. She stated that the safety and dignity of every worker must remain paramount.
Nalco Water said it is cooperating with local authorities and is committed to upholding safety standards. Tata Electronics has not yet issued an official statement regarding the deaths.