Chennai: Three workers died while cleaning a wastewater tank at a Tata Electronics factory near Hosur in Tamil Nadu. The plant makes parts for Apple iPhones. Officials believe the men may have breathed in toxic gas, but the exact cause will be known only after post-mortem tests.
The victims were contract workers and part of a four-person maintenance team. They were working on a wastewater-treatment tank at the factory in Vanniyapuram, near Uddanapalli, on Monday evening.
According to the district administration, B Akmal first looked into the filtration tank and collapsed. M Sarathikumar went to help him and also collapsed. P Kaveri then entered the tank to help the two men and collapsed as well. The fourth worker called for help.
All three workers were pulled out and taken to a private hospital in Hosur where doctors declared them dead. Their bodies were sent to the Government Medical College Hospital in Krishnagiri for post-mortem examinations.
Police said the workers may have inhaled toxic gas. The Krishnagiri district collector said the main cause appeared to be asphyxiation during sludge removal. The dead workers were B Akmal, 28; M Sarathikumar, 25; and P Kaveri, 32, as reported by The Indian Express.
Inquiry Begins
A senior official from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health said that the workers did not have proper safety equipment for the job. “A unit of the American company Ecolab, Nalco Water, operated the treatment plant and had engaged another company through a subcontract that employed the men. The bodies were taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Krishnagiri for post-mortem examinations. We are conducting a detailed inquiry today,” the official said.
Krishnagiri Collector C Dinesh Kumar said, “There were no proper safety measures in place while handling the ETP. The district administration is inquiring into the incident.”
Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Virudhai Magal Keerthana said, “The safety and dignity of every worker must remain paramount. This tragic incident will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.”
The district administration has started an inquiry. Tata Electronics and Apple have also ordered investigations. The factory was already closed for Deepavali when the accident happened.
Why The Plant Matters
The Hosur factory makes important iPhone parts, including back panels and metal casings. These parts need special machines and finishing work, especially for premium smartphones. Another Tata plant on the same campus assembles complete iPhones.