Three contract workers die at Tata iPhone component plant in Tamil Nadu
The workers reportedly inhaled toxic gas while cleaning a wastewater treatment tank at the facility in Krishnagiri district.
Three contract workers died on Monday evening while performing maintenance work at a Tata Electronics Private Limited plant in Tamil Nadu, according to reports from The Economic Times and WION. The facility, located in Vanniyapuram near Uddanapalli in Krishnagiri district, manufactures components for Apple iPhones.
The deceased have been identified as M Sarathikumar, B Akmal and P Kaveri. They were part of a four-person crew cleaning an effluent treatment plant (ETP) operated by Nalco Water. Preliminary enquiries suggest the workers may have inhaled toxic gas while inspecting a nano-filtration feed tank.
The incident occurred when one worker fainted after looking into the tank. Two others entered the tank to check on him and also collapsed, according to WION. All three were taken to a private hospital in Hosur but were declared dead on arrival.
The Krishnagiri district collector has raised concerns regarding safety arrangements at the plant. Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Virudhai Magal Keerthana stated that the deaths will undergo a thorough investigation and action will be taken based on the results.
Police have opened an investigation and the bodies were sent to the Government Krishnagiri Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examinations. The exact cause of death will be established following the final reports. Apple is expected to investigate the incident, according to a Reuters source.