Three workers die of asphyxiation at Tata iPhone parts factory in Tamil Nadu
The contract workers died while inspecting a filtration tank at the Hosur facility during maintenance work on an effluent treatment plant.
Three contract workers died after inhaling gas at a Tata Electronics factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, on Monday, according to reports by Telegraph India, Business Standard and Mint. The facility manufactures parts for Apple iPhones.
District official Dinesh Kumar said the deaths occurred during maintenance work on an effluent treatment plant operated by Nalco Water. The workers were inspecting an external nano-filtration tank when they inhaled gas.
Nalco Water, which is part of US-headquartered Ecolab, stated that the three workers were engaged by a sub-contractor and the incident happened in a utility facility it operates. The company said it is working with local authorities on the investigation.
Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Virudhai Magal Keerthana said on X that the incident will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action will be taken. Apple and Tata will also conduct investigations into the deaths.
Production was not affected as the facility was closed this week for the Hindu festival of Deepavali, according to industry sources. The Hosur site previously faced a fire in 2024 that halted production at the components plant.
Tata Electronics accounts for approximately 40 per cent of iPhone assembly in India, while Foxconn handles the remainder. India now produces roughly a quarter of the world's iPhones.