Three contract workers died after inhaling gas during an inspection of a nano-filtration tank at a Tata Electronics facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.
Apple is currently sending a team to the plant to assist local authorities with the investigation into the fatal accident.
9to5Mac reported that the incident occurred during maintenance work on an effluent treatment plant operated by Nalco Water. The facility, located in the Hosur district, produces critical iPhone components for Apple’s expanding Indian supply chain.
Reuters reported that “Apple's team is visiting the plant to assist in the ongoing investigation.”
District official Dinesh Kumar stated that the deaths happened when workers inhaled gas while inspecting an external tank. While the facility was closed this week for the Hindu festival of Deepavali, local authorities and Tata are conducting their own inquiries into the cause of the gas release.
Tata Electronics faces scrutiny in Tamil Nadu
This fatal accident follows recent regulatory tension regarding the facility’s environmental impact. Earlier this year, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board investigated allegations that wastewater from the Tata plant contaminated nearby farmland water.
Tata initially claimed that the regulator had dropped further action after the company addressed specific concerns. The company stated that separate testing supported its position that the plant was operating within established rules.
However, the environmental matter remained unresolved. Reuters reported three days after Tata’s claims that local health officials were still investigating complaints filed by nearby farmers regarding water quality.
Apple diversifies manufacturing in India
The accident occurs as Apple aggressively shifts its hardware production footprint away from China. India has become a central pillar of this strategy, with roughly 25% of the world’s iPhones now manufactured within the country.
Tata Electronics manages much of the assembly and component manufacturing during this transition. The integration of Tata into the Apple ecosystem involves manufacturing iPhone components in India as Apple diversifies its operations away from China.
Apple has not responded to requests for comment regarding the investigation. The company’s presence at the plant is limited to assisting the ongoing probe by Tamil Nadu authorities.
Current status of the Hosur facility
- Casualties: Three contract workers confirmed dead.
- Cause: Gas inhalation during nano-filtration tank inspection.
- Operational Status: Closed for Deepavali; production was not affected by the incident.
- Primary Investigators: Tata Electronics, Tamil Nadu authorities, and Apple’s internal team.
Authorities are still investigating the gas's chemical composition and why the effluent treatment plant's safety protocols failed. No timeline has been established for the release of the final accident report.
