Three contract workers died after reportedly inhaling toxic gas at a Tata Electronics facility manufacturing components for Apple iPhones in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district, raising fresh concerns about industrial safety at one of India’s major electronics manufacturing hubs.
The incident occurred late Monday, November 9, at the company’s facility in Hosur, where the workers had been assigned to clean an effluent treatment plant. According to senior district official Dinesh Kumar, the three workers were inspecting an external nano-filtration tank when they were exposed to gas.
The workers were immediately transported to a private hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the conditions under which the workers were carrying out maintenance activities.
Tamil Nadu’s Industries Minister Virudhai Magal Keerthana expressed concern over the fatalities and assured that the incident would be thoroughly investigated. In a statement posted on social media platform X, the minister said appropriate action would be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
The deaths represent another setback for Tata Electronics, which has faced several operational challenges at its Hosur manufacturing complex. In 2024, a major fire disrupted production at the company’s components facility, while authorities raised concerns earlier this year about alleged groundwater contamination before withdrawing a proposed shutdown.
The company also experienced a ransomware attack at an adjacent iPhone manufacturing facility within the same industrial compound. The cybersecurity breach reportedly exposed documents associated with Apple’s then-unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, adding to the operational and security challenges facing the manufacturer.
Tata Electronics plays a significant role in Apple’s expanding manufacturing operations in India, accounting for approximately 40% of the country’s iPhone assembly, with Foxconn responsible for much of the remaining production. India has become Apple’s most important manufacturing base outside China, producing an estimated 25% of iPhones worldwide as the technology company diversifies its global supply chain.
Tamil Nadu has emerged as a major destination for international manufacturing investment, hosting production facilities operated by companies including Foxconn, Hyundai, VinFast and BMW. The state’s expanding industrial sector has attracted substantial investment in electronics, automobiles and advanced manufacturing.
The latest fatalities have renewed attention on workplace safety standards in India’s rapidly growing electronics manufacturing industry, particularly the protection of contract workers involved in potentially hazardous maintenance operations. The outcome of the investigation is expected to determine the circumstances behind the gas exposure and whether additional safety measures or regulatory action are required.
